Chinese Character: 老
1. Character Basics
Radical: 耂 (old person radical)
Stroke Count: 6
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: lǎo (Third tone)
3. Meaning
Old; aged; elderly; experienced; to grow old; senior; veteran; used as a prefix for respect
4. Common Words
- 老人 (lǎorén) - elderly person; old person
- 老师 (lǎoshī) - teacher
- 老年 (lǎonián) - old age; advanced age
- 老板 (lǎobǎn) - boss; employer
- 老鼠 (lǎoshǔ) - mouse; rat
- 老实 (lǎoshi) - honest; sincere; straightforward
- 老家 (lǎojiā) - hometown; native place
- 老手 (lǎoshǒu) - old hand; experienced person
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "老" is a versatile character with multiple uses:
- As an adjective: Describes someone or something as old or aged
- As a prefix: Used to show respect, familiarity, or to indicate a long-standing relationship
- As a verb: To grow old or age
Grammar Patterns:
- 老 + 人: 老人 (elderly person)
- 老 + 师: 老师 (teacher - showing respect)
- 老 + [animal]: 老鼠 (mouse), 老虎 (tiger)
- 老 + [occupation]: 老板 (boss), 老总 (CEO)
- 老 + [place]: 老家 (hometown), 老店 (old store)
- 老 + [attribute]: 老实 (honest), 老实地 (honestly)
- 作动词: 人都会老的 (Everyone will grow old)
6. Cultural Background
The character "老" holds significant cultural importance in Chinese society, reflecting the traditional value of respecting elders.
In Chinese culture, age is often associated with wisdom and experience, and elderly people are traditionally held in high esteem.
The use of "老" as a prefix in words like "老师" (teacher) and "老板" (boss) demonstrates how it is used to show respect to authority figures.
China has a long history of filial piety (孝道, xiào dào), which emphasizes the importance of respecting and caring for one's parents and elders.
In modern times, while some traditional attitudes toward aging are changing, the character "老" still carries positive connotations of experience and wisdom.
The character is also used in various idioms and proverbs related to aging and wisdom, such as "老马识途" (lǎo mǎ shí tú), which means "an old horse knows the way" and implies that experience is valuable.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 这位老人很有智慧。
Pinyin: Zhè wèi lǎorén hěn yǒu zhìhuì.
English: This elderly person is very wise.
8. Memory Tips
The character "老" (lǎo) has an interesting structure that can help with memorization:
- The top part (耂) resembles an elderly person with hair on top
- The bottom part represents a person standing with a stooped back, which is often associated with old age
To remember the character, think of it as representing an elderly person with gray hair and a stooped posture.
Associate the character with common words like "老人" (elderly person) and "老师" (teacher) to reinforce its meaning and usage.
Note that "老" is often used as a prefix to show respect, which is an important cultural aspect to remember.
Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help remember its structure and stroke count.