Question
Updated on
s56952
21 December

  • Simplified Chinese (China)
  • English (US) Near fluent
  • French (France)
  • German
  • Italian
Question about English (US)

How do you say this in English (US)? how to describe someone is older than us? just 5-10years older but still under 50.
sometimes when I say "he is old" " i am not that old" i can feel people will find it weird to use old to describe someone is under 50 or even 35.

Answers
Read more comments
TheAlmightySand
21 December

  • English (US)

If he is 40-59, he is middle aged.
I don't think we have a word for the stage between "young adult" and "middle aged."
You could also say "he is in his 30s" / "in his 40s" etc.

Highly-rated answerer
s56952
21 December

  • Simplified Chinese (China)
  • English (US) Near fluent
@TheAlmightySand how do I describe "I am not that old" better? I was trying to say I am not in 30s
0 likes
TheAlmightySand
21 December

  • English (US)

@s56952 If you are in your 20s, "I'm not that old" is correct.
If you are in your 40s or older, then you could say "I'm not that young"

0 likes
Highly-rated answerer
s56952
21 December

  • Simplified Chinese (China)
  • English (US) Near fluent
@TheAlmightySand will it be weird if I say someone in 30s is old? if so, then why it is ok to say"I am not that old" to describe "I am in my 20s and not 30s"
0 likes
igorzhitskov
21 December

  • Russian

@s56952 He is a mature man. She is a mature woman. " mature" is more than " young" but less than " old".

0 likes
TheAlmightySand
21 December

  • English (US)

@s56952 It is weird, yes.
"I am not that old" means "I am not as old as you said" or "I am younger than you said."

So 20 years old is considered young. But this conversation is still natural:
A: You're 20, right?
B: No, I'm not that old! I'm 15!

Highly-rated answerer
s56952
21 December

  • Simplified Chinese (China)
  • English (US) Near fluent
@igorzhitskov thanks! but sometimes older people are not necessarily more mature. I think a person who is mature is more reliable and has more experience. but I just want to describe the age it self.
0 likes
JennTN
about 23 hours

  • English (US)
This one can be tricky. Saying someone is "old", even "older", can be taken as being offensive to some people (usually women more than men). I am 37, so I will use examples related to me: Me: "I am in my 30s" Someone else: "She is in her 30s" (non-offensive) or "She is about 30 or 40 years old." (non-offensive) Someone else: "Are you 45?" Me: "I am not THAT old!" (Some people would be offended) Someone else: "She is young".-Unless this is said by someone who is MUCH older than me, and someone that I respect (my grandpa, for example), this can seem offensive because it sounds like they are calling me a child, when I am obviously not. "He/she is old" should really be used only in situations where the person is older than almost everyone else (70s and above, I would say). There is a cultural understanding that to be described as "old" means that you are being described as worn out, weak, or feeble. Some people take offense to this. I would only describe someone as "old" if they are wrinkled, gray-haired, feeble, etc. I would not describe someone in thier 50s, or even 60s, as "old" unless they look very old. For people who are older than you, but not "old", than I would say "older than me" or "Maybe in thier 40s", for an example. "Middle-aged" means people who are roughly 30-50 years old. This can also mean a stage in life, though. This typically refers to people who have passed childbearing years but are still strong and active. Personally, I don't use this one very often. This is just my preference. I would be careful with "mature", as well. Some people will take offense to this one. Also, you are right, not everyone who is mature in age is mature in their personality. The word really means something like "to age". Some things age well, others do not. So how someone reacts to you saying they are "mature" will vary, depending on the person. It can be appropriate, but only in certain situations.

This one can be tricky. Saying someone is "old", even "older", can be taken as being offensive to some people (usually women more than men). I am 37, so I will use examples related to me:

Me: "I am in my 30s"
Someone else: "She is in her 30s" (non-offensive)
or
"She is about 30 or 40 years old." (non-offensive)

Someone else: "Are you 45?"
Me: "I am not THAT old!" (Some people would be offended)

Someone else: "She is young".-Unless this is said by someone who is MUCH older than me, and someone that I respect (my grandpa, for example), this can seem offensive because it sounds like they are calling me a child, when I am obviously not.

"He/she is old" should really be used only in situations where the person is older than almost everyone else (70s and above, I would say). There is a cultural understanding that to be described as "old" means that you are being described as worn out, weak, or feeble. Some people take offense to this. I would only describe someone as "old" if they are wrinkled, gray-haired, feeble, etc. I would not describe someone in thier 50s, or even 60s, as "old" unless they look very old.

For people who are older than you, but not "old", than I would say "older than me" or "Maybe in thier 40s", for an example.

"Middle-aged" means people who are roughly 30-50 years old. This can also mean a stage in life, though. This typically refers to people who have passed childbearing years but are still strong and active. Personally, I don't use this one very often. This is just my preference.

I would be careful with "mature", as well. Some people will take offense to this one. Also, you are right, not everyone who is mature in age is mature in their personality. The word really means something like "to age". Some things age well, others do not. So how someone reacts to you saying they are "mature" will vary, depending on the person. It can be appropriate, but only in certain situations.

Highly-rated answerer
JennTN
about 23 hours

  • English (US)

By the way, I struggle with this sometimes, as well. Some people really don't want you to refer to their age, in any way. I think this is silly, but a lot of people act weird about age.

Highly-rated answerer
s56952
about 15 hours

  • Simplified Chinese (China)
  • English (US) Near fluent
@JennTN Thank you so much 😊
s56952
about 15 hours

  • Simplified Chinese (China)
  • English (US) Near fluent
@TheAlmightySand Thank you !!☺️☺️
0 likes
s56952
about 15 hours

  • Simplified Chinese (China)
  • English (US) Near fluent
@JennTN so are there any softer and politer way to say "I am not that old" ? How about "I am mature but not that old yet." It is just a bit wordy.
JennTN
about 15 hours

  • English (US)

There is nothing impolite about saying "I am not that old". That is correct. What I meant was some people are offended if you guess them to be older than they are. Describing yourself as mature is fine, as well. You just need to be careful describing other people that way. "I am mature, but nit that old yet" is also fine.

Highly-rated answerer
s56952
about 14 hours

  • Simplified Chinese (China)
  • English (US) Near fluent
@JennTN Thanks again!
0 likes
PBKing
about 6 hours

  • English (US)

Just say “He’s a little older than us.”

0 likes
Highly-rated answerer
[News] Hey you! The one learning a language!

Do you know how to improve your language skills❓ All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker!
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
Sign up
Share this question
How do you say this in English (US)? how to describe someone is older than us? just 5-10years older but still under 50. sometimes when I say "he is old" " i am not that old" i can feel people will find it weird to use old to describe someone is under 50 or even 35.
Recommended Questions
Topic Questions
Newest Questions
Previous question/ Next question
hinative app preview balloon background image flying monga
  1. HiNative
  2. How do you say this in ...