Ummm...I'll try to explain it. I think it's an asian thing. When you are born you are 1 year old and not zero since you were in your mother's stomach for about a year. (In America when you are born you are zero year old) That is all I remember being told and something about on new years you add one year to your age. This is how I used to memorize my age: You add two years to your american age if your birthday didn't pass. If your birthday passed you only add one year. I know it's very confusing. I had a hard time trying to remember my age when I was younger.