耆 (qí) - Aged, old, elderly & venerable

耆Tone 2

qí ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

七器

耆 · qí

Aged, old, elderly;

venerable;

also refers to a person of sixty years of age or older.

Aged, old, elderlyvenerablealso refers to a person of sixty years

Usage highlights

Venerable elderAged and virtuousElderly year/age of sixtyRespected elderElderly gentlemanCommunity of elders

Synonyms

  • 老— old, aged
  • 寿— long-lived, longevity
  • 年长— elderly, senior

Antonyms

  • 幼— young, childish
  • 少— young, few
  • 青— youthful, young

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is a venerable elder (耆老).
  • The society respects the aged and virtuous (耆德).
  • She reached the age of sixty (耆年).
  • The village elders gathered for a meeting (耆宿).

Collocations

  • Venerable elder(耆老)
  • Aged and virtuous(耆德)
  • Elderly year/age of sixty(耆年)
  • Respected elder(耆宿)
  • Elderly gentleman(耆绅)
  • Community of elders(耆英)

Idioms

  • Respect the aged and love the young(敬老慈耆)
  • Gather the elders(耆老会)
  • Venerable elders and distinguished guests(耆英硕德)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, 耆 refers to people aged sixty and above, who are respected for their wisdom and experience.
  • The character is often used in formal contexts to show respect for the elderly.
  • Historically, 耆老 (venerable elders) played important roles in community decision-making and rituals.

FAQ