老 (lǎo) — 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

What does 老 mean?

老 (lǎo) has the following dictionary meaning.

1prefix 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

2old (of people)

3venerable (person)

4experienced

5of long standing

6always

7all the time

8of the past

9very

10outdated

11(of meat etc) tough

Character breakdown

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老lǎoprefix 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 · old (of people)

Reviewed examples

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How to pronounce 老

老

lǎo

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Related Chinese words and expressions

More linked vocabulary

老丈lǎo zhàngsir (respectful form of address for an old man)老中lǎo zhōng(slang) Chinese people; we Chinese (often self-referential, ironic); China; the Chinese side 老幺lǎo yāo(coll.) youngest child 老二lǎo èrsecond-eldest child in a family 老人lǎo rénold man or woman 老伯lǎo bóuncle (polite form of address for older male)老伴lǎo bàn(of an elderly couple) husband or wife 老例lǎo lìcustom; customary practice 老兄lǎo xiōngelder brother (often used self-referentially)老儿lǎo érfather 老公lǎo gōng(coll.) husband 老公lǎo gong(coll.) eunuch