honorific title; boss; commander
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
title for a soldier or policeman (historical)
archaicThis usage is archaic and refers to the period before 1949. It conveys a degree of respect but not necessarily high rank.
Lǎo老
zǒng总
，
qǐng请
wèn问
qù去
chéng城
lǐ里
de的
lù路
zěn怎
me么
zǒu走
？
Officer, could you tell me the way to the city?
Mín民
guó国
shí时
qī期
de的
jiē街
shàng上
yǒu有
bù不
shǎo少
xún巡
jǐng警
，
rén人
men们
cháng常
chēng称
tā他
men们
wéi为
lǎo老
zǒng总
。
There were many patrolmen on the streets during the Republic of China period, and people often called them "lǎozǒng."
noun
honorific title for a senior PLA officer or high-level professional (chief engineer, general manager, editor-in-chief, etc.)
honorificUsed respectfully, often combined with a surname (e.g., 张老总). In modern contexts, it's more commonly used for high-level professionals (CEO, chief engineer) than for military officers.
Wáng王
lǎo老
zǒng总
，
zhè这
fèn份
wén文
jiàn件
xū需
yào要
nín您
qiān签
zì字
。
Boss Wang, this document needs your signature.
Wǒ我
men们
gōng公
sī司
de的
Lǐ李
lǎo老
zǒng总
shì是
háng行
yè业
nèi内
de的
zhuān专
jiā家
。
Our company's General Manager Li is an expert in the industry.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Dà大
jiā家
dōu都
fēi非
cháng常
jìng敬
zhòng重
zhè这
wèi位
jīng经
yàn验
fēng丰
fù富
de的
zǒng总
gōng工
chéng程
shī师
，
zūn尊
chēng称
tā他
wéi为
Liú刘
lǎo老
zǒng总
。
Everyone highly respects this experienced chief engineer and respectfully calls him Chief Liu.