"它六岁。"
Translation:It is six years old.
14 Comments
Can this expression be used with inanimate objects, such as a building or a business?
In traditional chinese, we still write "ta" to make the distinction :
牠=animals
它=inanimate objects
祂=deity
The simplified Chinese only uses 它
668
Actually, 牠，它 and 祂 can all be used in Simplified Chinese, they're all still ㄊㄚ/Tā (I double checked on my keyboard) but it's kind of like 妳，it can be used in both but Chinese people prefer to just use “你”
Is 岁 a classifier? 它 seems to be a pronoun and 六 a numeral, if such classifications exist in Chinese.
They do, although since I'm a student of the American system, I don't know what a classifier is, although 岁 means "years old"
- 668
Because that would be saying that they are "a six year old" as if you're an object called "six years old" Like if you said "我是一隻貓” (I am a cat) you would be saying that you are physically a cat. Sorry, my explination is bad but I tried. I hope that helps.
Essentially it's just a difference between English and Chinese. There's no real explanation other than they're just different languages with different rules.
English: "I am 6 years old" French: "I have 6 years" Chinese: "I six years old"
There's no way other than to pay attention to the context. All three have the exact same pronounciation.
I wouldn't worry too much. It's rarely important in conversations.
