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Posts: 37

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Q: Why do people say they're a year older than they really are?

Do people tally birthdays differently here or something?

11 years 46 weeks ago in  Culture - China

 
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Posts: 114

Governor

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Its the chinese lunar year. This means, the moment you're born, you're already considered one years old

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11 years 46 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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They start counting your age from the moment of conception...maybe.  Not all Chinese people do this though...which makes it even more confusing, haha.

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11 years 46 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Also Chinese people have 2 birthdays. One is the solar calendar, which we follow, then there is the lunar calendar, which is the chinese calendar. Most old generation chinese follow the lunar calendar. The lunar calendar is also the dates they follow for the chinese new year. Thats why it is different each year. 

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11 years 46 weeks ago
 
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In China, the day you are born you are consider to be one year of age, instead of "zero" as we normally do.

Allow me to give you a hypothetical example.  Assume New Lunar Year is on January 27 of year XXXX.  And that a baby is born on January 25 of XXXX.  On January 26 of XXXX, one day after being born that baby is already one year old (nothing to do with time in the womb).

Now comes January 27, New Lunar Year.  In China, on that first day of the New Lunar Year, everyone becomes one year older, not on your physical birthday.  So, the baby born on January 25, on January 27 will be "officially" two years of age.  It also has nothing to do with the corresponding discrepancies between solar and lunar calendars.  This is so because a lunar month has only 29 and a fraction days, while the solar calendar has 28 (or 29 every 4 years), or 30 or 31 days.  Another incongruity (in our eyes) is that the lunar calendar does repeat one month, in this year of the dragon the month of June is repeated.

The way Chinese account for "age" of a person is the grounds for the controversy surrounding the Chinese gymnastic team, because it allows them to use 12 years old gymnasts as legal 14 years of age, gaining an advantage on flexibility, boiy mass and elasticity on Olympic competition.

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11 years 46 weeks ago
 
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I think, the easiest way to look at it - and it's how they do - is that you're in that year. So, once you're born, you're in your first year of life - thus, you are 1 year old. etc etc. When you're 19 (to us), you're in your 20th year - so they say you're 20 years old.

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11 years 46 weeks ago
 
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When I was 15, I said I was a year older so I could drive.

When I was 20, I said I was a year older so I could drink. Well.. semi-legally.

When I am 64, I will wish to be 65 so I can collect social security. (Stop laughing).

But right now, I am 29. For the last almost 13 years.

philbravery:

What a coincidence I'm celebrating the 16 anniversary of my 29th birthday this yearcrying

11 years 46 weeks ago
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HugAPanda:

aww, happy 29th birthday... again :)

11 years 46 weeks ago
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Jnusb416:

I turn 24 in two days. Whatcha gonna get me? 

11 years 46 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

Sorry Janus, age before beauty!

I am 44, so watcha gonna get ME?

11 years 46 weeks ago
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Jnusb416:

You can have a picture...of the Fred who lives in my bathroom. Ok, maybe sometimes he lives in my living room, but last night he was in the bathroom.

11 years 46 weeks ago
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11 years 46 weeks ago
 
Posts: 10

Governor

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may be they start counting age when fertalization occour.

GuilinRaf:

No. Read Expat John. He will set you straight.

11 years 46 weeks ago
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11 years 46 weeks ago
 
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