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If saying 同{おな}い年{どし} in daily conversation is just something you'd say without thinking twice, then I have no further questions.

But, doesn't saying 同い年 sound sort of stand-offish. Saying 同い年 is a hint to the listener that he is misunderstanding our level of friendship.

My asking question to Empress Michiko at お茶会

(私): "その二人子、同い年ですか。

This is normal usage.

My sister-in-law asking me a question at お寿司屋さん

(義理姉さん response #1): "その二人子、年齢が一緒ですか。
(義理姉さん response #2): "その二人子、同い年ですか。

I'd expect response #1.
Hearing #2, I'd be like that was completely uncalled for. What is her problem? If she wants to keep her distance, then so be it.

BTW:
同い年 is considered 当て字, right? I've never seen a word made 当て字 by its 送りがな.

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    I don't understand what's wrong with 同い年. It's a standard word.
    – strawberry jam
    Apr 22, 2016 at 15:43
  • If you think about it, the only part of 「同{おな}い年{どし}」 that doesn't fit the usual reading (「い」 rather than 「じ」) is written with kana, so I suppose technically the kanji are used normally. The 常用漢字表 lists it as an example under the reading おなじ without making any kind of special note.
    – user1478
    Apr 22, 2016 at 15:54
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    @strawberryjam Not if it is a "standard" word. For example, while still using "standard" English, I can adjust my vocab and sentence structures to make it clear I don't consider the listener a close friend.
    – konishiki
    Apr 22, 2016 at 15:57
  • @konishiki standard word as in no nuance
    – strawberry jam
    Apr 22, 2016 at 16:02
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    「その二人子」はどういう意味ですか？ Did you mean to write 「その二人は、同い年ですか？」? If talking to Empress Michiko it'd be better to say そちらのお二人は、同い年でいらっしゃいますか？
    – chocolate ♦
    Apr 22, 2016 at 16:41

1 Answer 1

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同い年 is the sound change of 同じ年(same age). And 同い年 is often used as　同じ学年(same grade in school).

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  • Would you use 同い年 in a daily conversation? There is no nuance?
    – konishiki
    Apr 22, 2016 at 16:04
  • Yes, 同い年 is common but it has often a nuance like "same grade in school" as I answered.
    – Yuuichi Tam
    Apr 22, 2016 at 16:08

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