Meaning
(a prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family to indicate affection or familiarity); old (of people)
Chinese: 年纪大、旧或经验多。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “lao” becomes a different word in each tone. 老 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 老师lǎo shīteacher
- 老人lǎo rénold man or woman; the elderly; one's aged parents or grandparents
- 老是lǎo shialways
- 老朋友lǎo péng youold friend; (slang) period; menstruation
- 老年lǎo niánelderly; old age; autumn of one's years
Example Sentence
我的老师很有耐心。Wǒ de lǎo shī hěn yǒu nài xīn.My teacher is very patient.
我WǒI的deof老师lǎo shīteacher很hěnvery有yǒuto have耐心nài xīnto be patient。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
A pictograph of an old person with long, untidy hair leaning on a stick (the bottom part, 匕). It means ‘old / aged’ and tops 考, 者.
A way to remember it
Long hair on top, a walking stick below — an old person.
Easy to confuse with
- 考‘To test’: the same 耂 top, but a different bottom (a curved stroke).