老
old; elderly; experienced; very; prefix for names
Meanings
17 senses · 82 examplesadjective
old; elderly; advanced in age
Used to describe people or things that have existed for a long time, or are past their prime. Can be used both literally and figuratively.
This elderly man goes to the park to exercise every morning.
He is over sixty, but doesn't look old at all.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
This old pagoda tree has a history of over a hundred years.
Grandma's old rheumatism hurts every winter.
Green vines cover the walls of the old house.
noun
elderly person; senior citizen
formalUsed as a respectful term for elderly people, often paired with a surname or title.
Old Master Xu is a retired professor from our school.
A new nursing home for the elderly has been built in the community.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
We should develop the good habit of helping the elderly and carrying the young.
This senior doctor has extremely rich medical experience.
The elderly in the nursing home all love to sing Peking opera.
verb
to pass away (of the elderly)
formalA gentle, euphemistic way to say someone died, almost always used specifically for elderly people and must be followed by the aspect particle 了.
Grandma Zhang next door passed away the day before yesterday.
The village's old party secretary passed away last year.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
I heard that the old father of the Wang family at the alley entrance passed away.
The old tailor in the town passed away last month.
Our old neighbor Grandpa Li passed away last year.
adjective
experienced; skilled; veteran
Describes someone who has a lot of practical experience in a specific field.
He is a veteran; fixing computers doesn't faze him at all.
Old Wang is very experienced in dealing with people and never offends others.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
This veteran craftsman's skill has been passed down for three generations.
This project needs an experienced project manager to lead it.
He is a veteran at the negotiating table and always gets the most favorable terms.
adjective
long-established; old (opposite of new)
Used to describe things that have existed for a long time, including places, relationships, brands, etc.
Our factory was built in 1980 and is an established plant.
Xiao Ming and I are old friends who have known each other for over ten years.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
Yan'an is an old revolutionary base area of China.
This cigarette brand has been around for a long time, and many elderly people smoke it.
This old bookstore has been open in the alley for thirty years.
adjective
worn-out; outdated; old-fashioned
Describes things that are no longer new or functional due to age.
His outdated mindset can never accept new things.
This old machine has been used for over twenty years and often breaks down.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
This old house is too worn-out and needs to be renovated.
His outdated ideas can't keep up with the development of the times.
The food at this old restaurant still tastes as good as before.
adjective
original; habitual; usual
Used to describe things that remain unchanged from the past.
He still hasn't changed his old temper and gets angry over small things.
Let's still meet at our usual spot.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
She put back on the blue skirt she used to love.
This shop still maintains its old tradition of only selling handmade steamed buns.
He went back to using his old method to solve this problem.
adjective
overripe; tough (vegetables)
Describes vegetables that have grown too old and are no longer tender or tasty.
This rapeseed is too overripe to stir-fry.
We should choose tender tomatoes, not the overripe ones.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
If green beans are too overripe, they will have lots of tough fibers.
Grandma said overripe cucumbers can be used to make pickles.
This year's spinach is overripe, so the price is much lower than last year.
adjective
overcooked; well-done
Describes food that has been cooked for too long and is no longer tender or fresh.
The eggs were overcooked, the yolks turned gray.
Don't overcook green vegetables, otherwise they will lose their nutrients.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
This steak was over-fried and is too tough to chew.
Mom reminded me not to overcook the noodles, keep them chewy.
Yesterday's braised pork was stewed too long, the texture was very dry and tough.
adjective
aged; deteriorated (polymers)
technicalA technical term used in chemistry and materials science to describe the degradation of polymer materials.
Plastic will age when exposed to sunlight for a long time.
This anti-aging agent can effectively extend the service life of rubber.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
Aged wires are prone to short circuits and pose safety hazards.
The factory needs to regularly inspect aged equipment and replace it in time.
This new type of paint can effectively prevent walls from aging and fading.
adjective
deep; dark (colors)
Used to describe colors that are dark and saturated.
This dark green coat is perfect for spring.
She wore a dark red dress today.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
This dark blue pigment was commonly used in ancient paintings.
The living room walls are painted dark gray, which looks very steady.
He likes to use dark brown leather to make handmade leather goods.
adverb
for a long time; not... for ages
Used to express that a long time has passed since the last occurrence of an action.
Lao Zhang has been very busy lately, haven't seen him for ages.
I haven't had hot pot for a long time, I'm craving it.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
We haven't been in touch for a long time, how have you been lately?
He hasn't called home for a long time, his family is worried about him.
I haven't gone for walks in the park for a long time, my health has gotten worse.
adverb
often; frequently
informalUsed to describe that an action happens regularly or frequently.
Others often finish tasks ahead of schedule, what about us?
He is often late, the teacher has criticized him several times already.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
I often forget to bring my keys, so I had to get a spare set.
Grandma often reminds me to pay attention to safety when going out.
This kid often asks me weird questions, it's really annoying.
adverb
very; extremely; quite
informalUsed to emphasize the degree of an adjective or adverb, often used in spoken Chinese.
The sun is already very high, why haven't you gotten up yet?
The train station is very far from here, we need to leave early.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
This clothes is very expensive, I can't afford it.
He arrived at the company very early and started his day's work.
This old street is extremely lively, with many tourists every day.
adjective
youngest (in the family)
Used to describe the youngest child in a family, usually paired with a noun indicating family relationship.
He is the youngest son in the family and was spoiled by his parents since childhood.
My youngest daughter is already thirty years old and hasn't gotten married yet.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
The youngest sister of his family is the study committee member of our class.
This youngest child in the family is greatly loved and doted on.
The youngest sister is always the one who gets the most care from their parents.
prefix
prefix for names, ranks, animals and plants
A common prefix in Chinese, used before surnames, numbers, or names of animals and plants.
Old Wang came to the shop to look for me this morning.
The third child in our class is a very humorous person.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
The tiger is the king of all beasts in the forest.
This kind of old corn is especially sweet, and many people love to eat it.
The teacher asked us to call our old classmate Lao Li to say hello.
noun
surname
Used as a Chinese surname.
My neighbor's surname is Lao, everyone calls him Mr. Lao.
Professor Lao is a well-known scholar at our school, whose surname is Lao and given name is Hua.