🇨🇳 How to say

“old” in Chinese

老lǎo
Illustration of "old" in a Chinese cultural setting
An elderly man with gentle smile lines around his eyes sits in a comfortable armchair, reading a book. His silver hair is neatly combed, and a pair of reading glasses rests on his nose, suggesting a long life filled with experience and wisdom.

Usage note

老 is used for people, animals, or objects that have existed for a long time. It can also be used affectionately before a surname to show respect for an elder, like 老王 (Old Wang).

Examples

  • 我的爷爷很老。

    My grandfather is very old.

  • 这是一只老猫。

    This is an old cat.

  • 那棵树很老了。

    That tree is very old.

Quick check

What does "老" mean?

  • A. old
  • B. expensive
  • C. happy
  • D. thirsty

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