老 lǎo old
old; always
How it came to be
A person bent forward with long hair and a stick to lean on. All three things are in the oracle bone: the stoop, the hair, and the staff. Nothing has been added since.
How it is used
- Literally 'old/aged' - 老人 (lǎorén) elderly person, 古老 (gǔlǎo) ancient - but as a prefix it's often just a familiar title, not about age: 老师 (lǎoshī) teacher, 老板 (lǎobǎn) boss, 老公 (lǎogōng) husband.
- 老家 (lǎojiā) is one's hometown/ancestral home.
- As an adverb 老是 (lǎoshì) means 'always / keep on' (often with a nagging tone) - 他老是迟到 (tā lǎoshì chídào) he's always late.
Characters built with 老
Words with 老
- 老师lǎoshīteacherHSK 1
- 老人lǎorénold man or womanHSK 3
- 老虎lǎohǔtigerHSK 4
- 老家lǎojiānative placeHSK 4
- 老年lǎoniánelderlyHSK 4
- 老是lǎoshìalwaysHSK 4
- 古老gǔlǎoancientHSK 5
- 老公lǎogōnghusbandHSK 5
- 老婆lǎopowifeHSK 5
- 老板lǎobǎnbossHSK 5
- 老百姓lǎobǎixìngordinary peopleHSK 5
- 养老yǎnglǎoto provide for the elderly (family members)HSK 6
- 养老院yǎnglǎoyuànnursing homeHSK 6
- 老太太lǎotàitaielderly lady (respectful)HSK 6
- 老实lǎoshihonestHSK 6
- 老鼠lǎoshǔratHSK 6
- 衰老shuāilǎoto ageHSK 6
- 元老yuánlǎosenior figureHSK 7
- 老人家lǎorenjiapolite term for old woman or manHSK 7
- 老化lǎohuàto ageHSK 7
- 老大lǎodàold ageHSK 7
- 老字号lǎozìhaoshop, firm, or brand of merchandise with a long-established reputationHSK 7
- 老乡lǎoxiāngfellow townsmanHSK 9
- 老伴儿lǎobànr(one's) spouse in old age; life companion (spoken, erhua)HSK 9
Example sentences
- 他看起来很老。 Tā kàn qǐlai hěn lǎo.He looks very old.
- 他遇到了老朋友。 Tā yùdàole lǎopéngyou.He ran into an old friend.
- 老爷爷在树林里散步。 Lǎoyéye zài shùlín lǐ sànbù.The old man is taking a walk in the woods.
- 她是我的老师。 Tā shì wǒ de lǎoshī.She's my teacher.