老 (lǎo) - old, aged, experienced, veteran & a prefix for certain titles and kinship terms
老 · lǎo
old, aged, experienced, veteran;
a prefix for certain titles and kinship terms;
always, constantly.
old, aged, experienced, veterana prefix for certain titles and kinship termsalways, constantly.
Usage highlights
teachertigermouseold personbossexperienced
Usage & contexts
Examples
- My grandfather is very old (我的爷爷很老).
- He is a teacher (老师).
- This is a tiger (老虎).
- She is always like this (她老是这个样子).
Collocations
- teacher(老师)
- tiger(老虎)
- mouse(老鼠)
- old person(老人)
- boss(老板)
- experienced(老练)
Idioms
- An old horse knows the way(老马识途)
- An old hand is a good guide(老马识途)
- The older, the more foolish(老糊涂)
- To grow old and useless(老而无用)
Cultural background
FAQ- In Chinese culture, age is often associated with wisdom, respect, and experience.
- The character is used as a prefix for many animals and titles, indicating familiarity or respect.
- It is a common surname in China.