老

• Pinyin: lǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 老 = pictograph of an old person with long hair leaning on a stick — old, elderly

Meaning

Old; elderly; always. Describes age or a habitual tendency.

Multiple uses: (1) old in age, opposite of 年轻 (young); (2) prefix in titles showing respect or familiarity (老师 teacher, 老王 Old Wang); (3) colloquially means 'always' or 'constantly' (他老迟到 = he's always late).

Examples

1. 我爷爷很老了。 My grandfather is very old.
2. 这个房子很老。 This house is very old.
3. 他老忘记带钥匙。 He always forgets to bring his keys.

Usage Guide

Context: age, description, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 老王是我的好朋友。(Old Wang is my good friend.)
• 他老迟到。(He's always late.)

Don't Say

• 你很老。(Calling someone old directly is rude — use gentler terms like 年纪大 or avoid mentioning age)

Origin & History

An ancient character depicting an old person with long hair and a walking stick. One of the oldest Chinese characters, found in oracle bone inscriptions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal