prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
venerable (person)
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
experienced
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
of long standing
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
always
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
all the time
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
of the past
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
very
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
outdated
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
(of meat etc) tough
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
老
lǎo
old, aged; experienced
HSK 3, a, 6 strokes, radical 老, rank #238, Easy
lǎo(lao3) T3
1old (of people)
2prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
老lǎo(lao3)
The character '老' (lǎo) primarily means 'old' and is used to indicate age or experience. In social contexts, it serves as a prefix to convey familiarity or affection towards someone, especially when placed before a surname. It can also denote something outdated or tough, particularly in reference to food.
Strokes6Radical老Frequency#238DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
'老' is frequently used in Chinese culture to show respect for elders, aligning with Confucian values that emphasize filial piety and reverence for age and wisdom. It also reflects the importance of familial relationships in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine an elderly person (老) sitting on a rocking chair, reminiscing about the past. The character looks like a person leaning forward, symbolizing wisdom and experience gained over many years. The pronunciation 'lǎo' sounds like 'low', suggesting that as things age, they often go 'lower' in quality.
Meanings of 老
lǎo(lao3)
1old (of people)
2prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 老
Quick Contrast
老 (old) vs 年长 (older) — use 老 for familiarity or affection, while 年长 emphasizes relative age without the same familiarity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine an elderly person (老) sitting on a rocking chair, reminiscing about the past. The character looks like a person leaning forward, symbolizing wisdom and experience gained over many years. The pronunciation 'lǎo' sounds like 'low', suggesting that as things age, they often go 'lower' in quality.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to use '老' in overly formal contexts, as it can sound too casual or familiar. This character often appears in expressions such as '老朋友' (old friend) or '老实说' (to be honest). Ensure you use the appropriate tone to convey the intended meaning, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, '老' connects with other family-related vocabulary and terms describing age or experience, such as '年轻' (young) or '经验' (experience). Students should focus on using it in social contexts and practice its application in phrases.
Cultural Note
'老' is frequently used in Chinese culture to show respect for elders, aligning with Confucian values that emphasize filial piety and reverence for age and wisdom. It also reflects the importance of familial relationships in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use '老' in formal introductions, which can sound disrespectful. For example, saying '老王' when addressing someone named Wang in a formal setting should be avoided; instead, use '王先生' (Mr. Wang).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 老
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 老 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 老 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 老
老 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 12 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Bosses have a way of always finding out about such things.
Cultural Notes for 老
🏮Cultural insight
'老' is frequently used in Chinese culture to show respect for elders, aligning with Confucian values that emphasize filial piety and reverence for age and wisdom. It also reflects the importance of familial relationships in Chinese society.
Word Family of 老
Compounds19
佬lao3elder; mature
姥lao3grandma (maternal)
耆qi2man of sixty; aged, old
铑lao3rhodium
咾lao3onomatopoeic; sound, noise
栳lao3basket
狫
耄mao4selderly person; old, senile
耈
耋die2aged; in one's eighties
峔
恅
珯
硓
粩
荖
蛯
銠
鮱
Words Containing This Character20
老lǎoalways
老师lǎoshīteacher老師
老板lǎobǎnboss老闆
老婆lǎopo(coll.) wife
老兄'old chap' (form of address between male friends)
老人lǎorénthe elderly
老公lǎogōng(coll.) eunuch
老天God
老实lǎoshihonest老實
老大lǎodàold age
老鼠lǎoshǔrat
老百姓lǎobǎixìngordinary people
老子father
圣诞老人Father Christmas聖誕老人
老头old fellow老頭
古老gǔlǎoancient
老朋友lǎopéngyouold friend
老虎lǎohǔtiger
老是lǎoshìalways
老年lǎoniánelderly
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 佬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 老
'老' is generally used with peers or those younger than oneself, but it may be inappropriate or disrespectful when addressing elders or superiors.
'老' can refer to age, but it also conveys familiarity and affection when used with names, indicating a close relationship.
'老' is pronounced with a falling-rising tone (lǎo); practice the tone to avoid confusion with other characters.
