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While I understand that the 歳 counter is used to indicate ages of people and
animals, I was wondering if it could be used to also talk about ages of
inanimate things like architecture or furniture.

For example,

sentence: That castle is more than 500 years old.

According to me, it should translate to:

> あの しろう わ ５００さい より おい です  
>  (which is: Ano shirou wa 500-sai yori oi desu)

However, the answer I get from google translate is:

> あの城は500年以上前です。  
>  (which is: Ano shiro wa 500-nen ijō maedesu.)

I am completely new to the Japanese language and this has completely confused
me. I'd appreciate it if you could help me out please.
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2019-05-01T04:09:50.690
67911
2019-11-28T10:31:28.620
2019-05-01T05:06:48.747
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counters
Can the 歳 counter be used for architecture, furniture etc to tell its age?
As you said, 「N 歳{さい}」 is reserved for humans and other animals. For other
objects, it is not used except for when one personifies them humorously (or
for other literary effects).

For buildings, by far the most common phrase would be:

> 「築{ちく} N 年{ねん}」

We would normally say:

> 「あの城{しろ}は築５００年以上{ねんいじょう}です。」

It is _**not**_ correct/grammatical or natural-sounding to say:

> 「あの城は500年以上前です。」

DO NOT trust Google Translate. To use 「N 年以上前{ねんいじょうまえ}」 correctly, you need
to use a real verb as in:

> 「あの城が **建{た}てられた** のは500年以上前です。」
>
> "It was over 500 years ago when that castle was built."

Moving on to furniture..

For furniture, a very common way to indicate the age is to use:

> 「N 年物{ねんもの}」

as in:

> 「２０年物のイス」、「７０年物のタンス」, etc.

Or you could use "explanatory" phrases such as:

> 「このイスは２０年前に作{つく}られました。」,
>
> 「これは７０年前に作られたタンスです。」, etc.
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2019-05-01T04:54:17.390
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2019-11-28T10:31:28.620
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer