Writing
老 (lǎo) — how to say "old" in Chinese
老
Old
adjective · prefix · frequency adverb
1. old; aged; long-standingHSK 3.0 · level 3
adjective
2. used before surnames, birth-order numbers, or nouns to show familiarity or seniorityHSK 3.0 · level 3
prefix
3. always; constantlyHSK 3.0 · level 4
frequency adverb
How to use it
Goes before the verb.
他老迟到。
tā lǎo chí dào
He is always late.
Radicals / Keys
老
Old
#125 · lǎo · 6 strokes
Synonyms
Collocations
老朋友
lǎo péngyou
old friend
Examples
这位老教授知识渊博，我们都很尊敬他。
This old professor is very knowledgeable, we all respect him.
他是我的一位老朋友。
He is an old friend of mine.
Mnemonic
[lǎo-] Larry the Old Owl perches atop an ancient oak tree 🌳, pondering the mysteries of time. As he gazes at the horizon, the branches form the Chinese character 老, reminding him of the grace and wisdom that come with being old.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "old" in Chinese?
"old" in Chinese is 老 (lǎo).
What does 老 mean in English?
老 (lǎo) means "Old".
Old in Chinese pinyin
It is pronounced lǎo (written as lao). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
Old in Chinese character
It is written 老 and has 6 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order and lets you trace it.
What HSK level is 老?
老 belongs to the HSK 3 vocabulary list.
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