years old

(stop) + (become) + (small size)
★★★☆☆
13 strokes
COUNTER

Onyomi

SAI

He SIGHed as he turned another year old. Closer to the grave, my friend, closer to the grave!

Mnemonic

When you turn 10 years old you stop being small, and you become a tween!

Jukugo

xxx (さい)

years old ★★★★★ COUNTER

counter for "years old" that a person is.

万歳(ばんざい!)

banzai! ★★☆☆☆ 1/2 KANA
(10000) + (years old) = 万歳 (banzai!)

Fuckin' banzai, man!!!! (literally '10,000 years', meaning, 'May the Emperor live 10,000 years!' is what you shout as you charge into battle)

二十歳(はたち)

twenty years old ★☆☆☆☆ CCWFP
(two) + (ten) + (years old) = 二十歳 (twenty years old)

twenty years old - traditionally the age at which Japanese turn into adults and get presents, kimono, etc. So, naturally it has its own special pronunciation that doesn't make any sense, since it SHOULD be called にじゅうさい。 Whatever. Tradition.

Lookalikes

Meaning Hint Radical
strict NEEDLE
years old STOP
annihilate FIRE AND WATER
terrible majesty WOMAN

The strict nurse injects you with a NEEDLE,

but the drug STOPS you from aging.

Both FIRE AND WATER can annihilate a city,

but that WOMAN has a terrible majesty even more scary!