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
old (of people)
venerable (person)
experienced
of long standing
always
all the time
of the past
very
outdated
(of meat etc) tough
lǎo shī
teacher
CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4]
lǎo rén
old man or woman
the elderly
one's aged parents or grandparents
lǎo líng
old age
aging
aged
geriatric
the aged
lǎo bǎn
boss
business proprietor
CL:個|个[ge4]
lǎo gong
(coll.) eunuch
see also 老公[lao3 gong1]
lǎo huà
to age (of person or object)
becoming old
lǎo lù
old road
familiar way
beaten track
conventional behavior
lǎo nián
elderly
old age
autumn of one's years
lǎo bó
uncle (polite form of address for older male)
lǎo shì
old-fashioned
old type
outdated
lǎo gōng gong
old man
husband's father
father-in-law
court eunuch
jìng lǎo yuàn
home of respect for aged
nursing home
lǎo xiōng
'old chap' (form of address between male friends)
lǎo wài
(coll.) foreigner (esp. non Asian person)
layman
amateur
lǎo nǎi nai
(coll.) father's father's mother
paternal great-grandmother
respectful form of address for an old woman
lǎo jiàng
lit. old general
commander-in-chief 將帥|将帅, the equivalent of king in Chinese chess
fig. old-timer
veteran
shuāi lǎo
to age
to deteriorate with age
old and weak
Lǎo Shě
Lao She (1899-1966), Chinese novelist and dramatist
lǎo pái
old, well-known brand
old style
old school
an old hand
experienced veteran
lǎo shǒu
experienced person
an old hand at sth
lǎo dà
old age
very
eldest child in a family
leader of a group
boss
captain of a boat
leader of a criminal gang
lǎo bǎi xìng
ordinary people
the "person in the street"
CL:個|个[ge4]
cāng lǎo
old
aged
(of calligraphy or painting) vigorous
forceful
lǎo shí
honest
sincere
open and guileless
naive
lǎo rén jiā
polite term for old woman or man
bái tóu xié lǎo
(to live together until the) white hairs of old age (idiom); to live to a ripe old age in conjugal bliss
until death do us part
lǎo ye
(respectful) lord
master
(coll.) maternal grandfather
lǎo hàn
old man
I (an old man referring to himself)
Wáng lǎo jí
Wanglaoji (beverage brand)
lǎo bǎn niáng
female proprietor
lady boss
boss's wife
lǎo zì hào
shop, firm, or brand of merchandise with a long-established reputation
lǎo jiā
native place
place of origin
home state or region
huí lǎo jiā
to go back to one's roots
to return to one's native place
by ext. to join one's ancestors (i.e. to die)
lǎo niáng
my old mother
I, this old woman
my old lady (colloquial)
maternal grandmother
midwife
lǎo yīng
(coll.) eagle
hawk
any similar bird of prey
lǎo tóu
old fellow
old man
father
husband
lǎo tóu zi
(coll.) old man
(said of an aging husband) my old man
lǎo zi
father
daddy
"I, your father" (in anger, or out of contempt)
I (used arrogantly or jocularly)
Lǎo Zǐ
Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism
the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經|道德经 by Laozi
yǎng lǎo
to provide for the elderly (family members)
to enjoy a life in retirement
xiǎo lǎo pó
concubine
junior wife
mistress
lǎo bàn
(of an elderly couple) husband or wife
lǎo xiāng
fellow townsman
fellow villager
sb from the same hometown
lǎo tài pó
old woman (at times contemptuous)
lǎo chéng
mature
experienced
sophisticated
yuán lǎo
senior figure
elder
doyen
zhǎng lǎo
elder
term of respect for a Buddhist monk
lǎo shí shuō
honestly speaking
to be frank, ...
Shèng dàn Lǎo rén
Father Christmas
Santa Claus
lǎo yī bèi
previous generation
older generation
Lǎo chéng qū
Laocheng district of Luoyang City 洛陽市|洛阳市[Luo4 yang2 shi4], Henan
lǎo chéng qū
old city district
historical center
lǎo yé ye
(coll.) father's father's father
paternal great-grandfather
lǎo nián chī dāi
senile dementia
Alzheimer's disease
lǎo shào jiē yí
suitable for both the young and the old
nán nǚ lǎo shào
men, women, young and old
all kinds of people
people of all ages
each and everyone
yǔ wén lǎo shī
language and literature teacher
pǔ tōng lǎo bǎi xìng
common people
average people
hoi polloi
lǎo niú chī nèn cǎo
lit. an old cow eats young grass (idiom)
fig. a May-December relationship
a romance where the man is significantly older than the woman
lǎo péng you
old friend
(slang) period
menstruation
lǎo tài tai
elderly lady (respectful)
esteemed mother
CL:位[wei4]
lǎo tào
hackneyed
well-worn (phrase etc)
same old story
stereotypical fashion
lǎo chéng
old town
old district of a city
zhōng lǎo nián rén
middle-aged and elderly people
Lǎo Zhuāng
Laozi and Zhuangzi (or Lao-tze and Chuang-tze), the founders of Daoism
wáng lǎo wǔ
lit. fifth child of the Wangs
bachelor
Lǎo jūn
Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism
the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經|道德经 by Laozi
yuè lǎo
matchmaker
go-between
same as 月下老人[yue4 xia4 lao3 ren2]
Lǎo jiē
Lao Cai, Vietnam
Laokai or Laukkai, Burma (Myanmar)
lǎo èr
the second child or brother (or sister)
(slang) penis
lǎo tài
elderly, as in movement or bearing
lǎo yàng zi
old situation
things as they were
lǎo qiān
cheat
swindler (in gambling)
lǎo nián chī dāi zhèng
senile dementia
Alzheimer's disease
fǎn lǎo huán tóng
to recover one's youthful vigor
to feel rejuvenated (idiom)
èr lǎo
mother and father
parents
Lǎo hǔ Wǔ zī
Eldrick "Tiger" Woods (1975-), American golfer
Lǎo fó yé
title of respect for the queen mother or the emperor's father
nickname for Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后[Ci2 xi3 tai4 hou4]
zuàn shí wáng lǎo wǔ
highly eligible bachelor
desirable male partner
lǎo dāng yì zhuàng
old but vigorous (idiom); hale and hearty despite the years
lǎo diào yá
very old
obsolete
out of date
lǎo liǎn
self-respect of old person
face
thick-skinned (i.e. impervious to criticism)
brazen
zūn lǎo ài yòu
respect the old and cherish the young
lǎo shào xián yí
suitable for young and old
lǎo hú li
old fox
fig. cunning person
lóng tóu lǎo dà
big boss
leader of a group
dominant (position)
lǎo lao
maternal grandmother
same as 姥姥
lǎo fù rén
old lady (term of modesty)
lǎo yù
old woman (formal writing)
Lǎo hé kǒu
Laohekou county level city in Xiangfan 襄樊[Xiang1 fan2], Hubei
qiū lǎo hǔ
hot spell during autumn
Indian summer
huó dào lǎo , xué dào lǎo
One is never too old to learn. (idiom)
lǎo hǎo rén
one who tries never to offend anybody
lǎo tóu r
see 老頭子|老头子[lao3 tou2 zi5]
bái tóu dào lǎo
(to live together until the) white hairs of old age (idiom); to live to a ripe old age in conjugal bliss
until death do us part
gū lǎo
solitary old man or woman
regular patron (at brothels)
lǎo móu shēn suàn
rigorous schemes and deep foresight (idiom); astute and circumspect
bǎo dāo wèi lǎo
treasure knife does not age (idiom); old but still vigorous
lǎo jiǎn
callus (patch or hardened skin)
corns (on feet)
also 老趼
yuán lǎo yuàn
upper house
senate
senior statesmen's assembly
lǎo kè
peddler
old or regular customer
lǎo jì fú lì
lit. an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles (idiom); fig. aged person with great aspirations
lǎo là
shrewd and ruthless
efficient and unscrupulous
yuè xià lǎo rén
minor divinity concerned with marriage
matchmaker
go-between
Lǎo hé kǒu shì
Laohekou county level city in Xiangfan 襄樊[Xiang1 fan2], Hubei
jiāng hái shì lǎo de là
lit. old ginger is hotter than young ginger
experience counts (idiom)
lǎo tài lóng zhōng
old and decrepit
senile
doddering old age
lǎo yān qiāng
heavy smoker
chain smoker
life-long smoker
lǎo chǔ nǚ
unmarried old woman
spinster
lǎo dà tú shāng bēi
vain regrets of old age (idiom)
yǎng ér fáng lǎo
(of parents) to bring up children for the purpose of being looked after in old age
lǎo wú lǎo , yǐ jí rén zhī lǎo
to honor old people as we do our own aged parents
lǎo bó bo
grandpa (polite form of address for old man)
lǎo qì héng qiū
old and decrepit
proud of one's age and experience (idiom)
bàn lǎo xú niáng
middle-aged but still attractive woman
lady of a certain age
lǎo tài yé
elderly gentleman (respectful)
esteemed father
lǎo bàn r
erhua variant of 老伴[lao3 ban4]
lǎo mā zi
older female servant
amah
shào zhuàng bù nǔ lì , lǎo dà tú shāng bēi
if you are lazy in your prime, you'll be sorry in your old age
lǎo dà niáng
old lady
Madam (polite address)
CL:位[wei4]
chuán lǎo dà
coxswain
steersman
boatswain (bo'sun)
lǎo diào chóng tán
to play the same old tune (idiom); unoriginal
lǎo shén zài zài
calm
unperturbed
(Taiwanese, POJ pr. [lāu-sîn-tsāi-tsāi])
Lǎo biān
Laobian district of Yingkou City 營口市|营口市, Liaoning
lǎo dà mā
"Madam" (affectionate term for an elderly woman)
CL:位[wei4]
lǎo jì fú lì , zhì zài qiān lǐ
lit. an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles (idiom); fig. old people may still cherish high aspirations
lǎo mǎ shí tú
an old horse knows the way (idiom); an experienced worker knows what to do
an old hand knows the ropes
lǎo cán yóu jì
novel by late Qing novelist Liu E 劉鶚|刘鹗, classified as novel of denunciation
lǎo yǎn hūn huā
blurred vision of an old person (idiom)
lǎo wú lǎo , yǐ jí rén zhī lǎo , yòu wú yòu , yǐ jí rén zhī yòu
to honor old people as we do our own aged parents, and care for other's children as one's own
Zhuāng Lǎo
Zhuangzi and Laozi, the Daoist masters
lǎo chéng chí zhòng
old and wise
experienced and knowledgeable
qī lǎo bā shí
in one's seventies (age)
very old (of people)
lǎo huáng lì
lit. last year's calendar (almanac)
fig. ancient history
obsolete practice
old-fashioned principle
fú lǎo
to admit to one's advancing years
to acquiesce to old age
lǎo zhàng
lit. old account
old debt
fig. old scores to settle
old quarrels
old grudge
xú niáng bàn lǎo
middle-aged but still attractive woman
lady of a certain age
chòu lǎo jiǔ
stinking intellectual (contemptuous term for educated people during the Cultural Revolution)
lǎo jì
old thoroughbred
fig. aged person with great aspirations
Lǎo biān qū
Laobian district of Yingkou City 營口市|营口市, Liaoning
lǎo lái qiào
old person who dresses up as teenager
mutton dressed as lamb
lǎo pó hái zi rè kàng tou
wife, kids and a warm bed (idiom)
the simple and good life
Lǎo shān Zì xíng chē guǎn
Laoshan Velodrome, a Beijing 2008 Olympics venue
shí tú lǎo mǎ
lit. an old horse knows the way home (idiom); fig. in difficulty, trust an experience colleague
lǎo sān piān
Lao San Pian, three short essays written by Mao Zedong before the PRC was established
jìng lǎo zūn xián
to respect the wise and venerate the worthy (idiom); to honor the great and the good
qīng tiān dà lǎo ye
(coll.) just and incorruptible official
lǎo yú shì gù
experienced in the ways of the world (idiom); worldly-wise
sophisticated
Mián lán lǎo dǎo
Mindanao (island in the Philippines)
Lǎo ye lǐng
Chinese name for Sichote-Alin mountain range in Russia's Primorsky Krai around Vladivostok
māo kū lǎo shǔ
the cat weeps for the dead mouse (idiom); hypocritical pretence of condolence
crocodile tears
lǎo shǔ wěi ba
lit. rat's tail; fig. a follower of inferior stature
lǎo kuàng kuàng
rigid conventions
reactionary framework
lǎo wáng mài guā , zì mài zì kuā
every potter praises his own pot (idiom)
all one's geese are swans
lǎo zhuō
old fart (usually in self reference)
geezer
lǎo mào
dim sight of the aged
doddering
senile
hù lǎo zhě
carer of elderly persons
aged care worker
bǎo yǐ lǎo quán
to thump repeatedly with one's fist
yǐ lǎo dà zì jū
regarding oneself as number one in terms of leadership, seniority or status
lǎo mǔ
old lady (term of modesty)
lǎo yān guǐ
heavy smoker
chain smoker
fān lǎo zhàng
to turn over old accounts
fig. to revive old quarrels
to reopen old wounds
lǎo shào wú qī
cheating neither old nor young
treating youngsters and old folk equally scrupulously
Our house offers sincere treatment to all and fair trade to old and young alike.
lǎo tài gōng
aged gentleman (dialect, respectful term)
jìng lǎo xí
priority seating for the aged (on buses etc)
qióng dāng yì jiān , lǎo dāng yì zhuàng
poor but ambition, old but vigorous (idiom); robust and determined to hold one's position despite poverty and old age
gǒu dài lǎo shǔ
lit. a dog who catches mice
to be meddlesome (idiom)
bō lán lǎo chéng
splendid and powerful (of story)
majestic
awesome
shuǐ lǎo yā
common name for cormorant
wán māo hé lǎo shǔ de yóu xì
to play a cat and mouse game
lǎo jiǎn
callus (patch or hardened skin)
corns (on feet)
lǎo mǎ liàn zhàn
lit. the old horse loves his stable
fig. sb old but reluctant to relinquish their post (idiom)
Lǎo yīng xīng yún
Eagle or Star Queen Nebula M16
lǎo mǎ sī fēng
old horse sniffs the wind (idiom); fig. aged person with great aspirations
kōng xīn dà lǎo guān
fake important personage
sham
lǎo jì sī fēng
old steed sniffs the wind (idiom); fig. aged person with great aspirations
lǎo shǔ tuō mù xiān , dà tóu zài hòu tou
when the mice drag a shovel, the biggest thing comes second
the tip of the iceberg
the cockroach principle
lǎo kè r
erhua variant of 老客[lao3 ke4]
kōng xīn lǎo dà
pretentious and vacuous person
mù nè lǎo rén
ungraduated ruler
straight edge
Lǎo wū qià
same as 烏魯克恰提|乌鲁克恰提 in Xinjiang
ài lǎo hǔ nǐ
I love you (jocular transliteration from English)
shì jiè xìng gǔ lǎo wèn tí
a problem as old as the world itself
lǎo diē
(dialect) father
old man
sir
lǎo fù
father
old man
venerable sir
lǎo yóu zi
(coll.) wily old fox
crafty fellow
lǎo máo bìng
chronic illness
old weakness
chronic problem
lǎo máo zi
Westerner (esp. a Russian) (derog.)
lǎo yé zi
my (you etc) old father
polite appellation for an elderly male
lǎo niú lā pò chē
see 老牛破車|老牛破车[lao3 niu2 po4 che1]
lǎo niú pò chē
lit. old ox pulling a shabby cart (idiom)
fig. slow and inefficient
lǎo niú shì dú
lit. an old ox licking its calf (idiom)
fig. (of parents) to dote on one's children
Lǎo Wáng mài guā , zì mài zì kuā
every potter praises his own pot (idiom)
all one's geese are swans
lǎo shēng
venerable middle-aged or elderly man, usually wearing an artificial beard (in Chinese opera)
lǎo cū
uneducated person
yokel
boor
roughneck
Lǎo Cán Yóu jì
The Travels of Lao Tsan, novel by late Qing novelist Liu E 劉鶚|刘鹗[Liu2 E4]
lǎo shi bā jiāo
(coll.) docile
well-behaved
biddable
lǎo xiǎo
the old and the young
the youngest member of the family
lǎo xiǎo lǎo xiǎo
(coll.) as one ages, one becomes more and more like a child
lǎo mào r
(dialect) country bumpkin
a hick
lǎo dì
(affectionate form of address for a male who is not very much younger than oneself) my boy
old pal
lǎo dàn
old woman role in Chinese opera
lǎo běn
capital
assets
savings
nest egg
(fig.) reputation
laurels (to rest upon)
old edition of a book
(tree) trunk
lǎo dōng xi
(derog.) old fool
old bastard
lǎo bǎn
variant of 老闆|老板[lao3 ban3]
lǎo shi
honest
sincere
well-behaved
open and guileless
naive
lǎo jì fú lì , zhì zài qiān lǐ
lit. an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles (idiom); fig. old people may still cherish high aspirations
lǎo gǔ tou
weary old body (colloquial term, used jocularly or irreverently)
lǎo shǔ lā guī , wú cóng xià shǒu
like mice trying to pull a turtle, nowhere to get a hand grip (idiom)
no clue where to start
lǎo shǔ guò jiē , rén rén hǎn dǎ
lit. when a rat crosses the street, people chase it down (idiom)
fig. everyone detests a lowlife
guò jiē lǎo shǔ
sb or sth detested by all
target of scorn
anathema
cf. 老鼠過街,人人喊打|老鼠过街,人人喊打[lao3 shu3 guo4 jie1 , ren2 ren2 han3 da3]
yí lǎo
old fogy
adherent of previous dynasty
kuò lǎo
variant of 闊佬|阔佬[kuo4 lao3]
yǎng lǎo sòng zhōng
to look after one's aged parents and arrange proper burial after they die
lǎo tóu lè
backscratcher (made from bamboo etc)
(may also refer to other products that are of benefit to old people, such as padded cloth shoes, mobility tricycle etc)
lǎo bǎn niáng
female proprietor
lady boss
boss's wife
Lǎo Měi
(coll.) an American
person from the United States
lǎo xiū chéng nù
see 惱羞成怒|恼羞成怒[nao3 xiu1 cheng2 nu4]
Lǎo Dān
another name for Laozi 老子[Lao3 zi3]
lǎo hǔ zào
old-style large kitchen stove
lǎo hǔ cài
"Tiger Vegetable Salad," Northeast China dish usually consisting of hot pepper, cucumber, cilantro and leek
lǎo chǔ nǚ
unmarried old woman
spinster
lǎo bàng shēng zhū
lit. an old oyster producing a pearl (idiom)
fig. birthing a son at an advanced age
lǎo bèi
the older generation
ancestors
yǎng lǎo jīn shuāng guǐ zhì
dual pension scheme (PRC)
yī lì lǎo shǔ shǐ huài le yī guō zhōu
lit. a piece of rat feces spoiled the whole pot of congee (idiom)
fig. one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch
dì lǎo tiān huāng
see 天荒地老[tian1 huang1 di4 lao3]
tiān lǎo ye
see 老天爺|老天爷[lao3 tian1 ye2]
tiān huāng dì lǎo
until the end of time (idiom)
jiā lǎo
(old) a senior in one's household
bǎo dāo bù lǎo
lit. a good sword always remains sharp (idiom)
fig. (of one's skills etc) to be as good as ever
the old man still has it
shào nián lǎo chéng
accomplished though young
lacking youthful vigor
Xú niáng bàn lǎo
middle-aged but still attractive woman
lady of a certain age
tǔ lǎo mào
hillbilly
yokel
redneck
bumpkin
kěn lǎo zú
(coll.) adults still living with and depending on their parents
yī kē lǎo shǔ shǐ huài le yī guō tāng
lit. a piece of rat feces spoiled the whole pot of soup (idiom)
fig. one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch
yī kē lǎo shǔ shǐ huài le yī guō zhōu
see 一粒老鼠屎壞了一鍋粥|一粒老鼠屎坏了一锅粥[yi1 li4 lao3 shu3 shi3 huai4 le5 yi1 guo1 zhou1]
shàng yǒu lǎo xià yǒu xiǎo
lit. above are the elderly, below are the young (idiom)
fig. to have to take care of both one's aging parents and one's children
sandwich generation
rén lǎo zhū huáng
(of a woman) old and faded
Bā Dà Yuán lǎo
"the Eight Great Eminent Officials" of the CPC, namely 鄧小平|邓小平[Deng4 Xiao3 ping2], 陳雲|陈云[Chen2 Yun2], 李先念[Li3 Xian1 nian4], 彭真[Peng2 Zhen1], 楊尚昆|杨尚昆[Yang2 Shang4 kun1], 薄一波[Bo2 Yi1 bo1], 王震[Wang2 Zhen4], and 宋任窮|宋任穷[Song4 Ren4 qiong2]
abbr. to 八老[Ba1 lao3]
Bā lǎo
"the Eight Great Eminent Officials" of the CPC, abbr. for 八大元老[Ba1 Da4 Yuan2 lao3]
bàn lǎo Xú niáng
middle-aged but still attractive woman
lady of a certain age
Gē lǎo huì
late-Qing underground resistance movement against the Qing dynasty
kěn lǎo
(coll.) to live with and depend on one's parents even upon reaching adulthood
pà lǎo pó
henpecked
to be under one's wife's thumb
lǎo bù sǐ
(derog.) old but still alive
old fart
old bastard
lǎo rén yuàn
nursing home
old people's home
lǎo yǒu
old friend
sb who passed the county level imperial exam (in Ming dynasty)
lǎo gǔ bǎn
overly conservative
old-fashioned
old fogey
a square
lǎo wú lǎo , yǐ jí rén zhī lǎo
to honor old people as we do our own aged parents
lǎo jiān jù huá
variant of 老奸巨猾[lao3 jian1 ju4 hua2]
lǎo jiān jù huá
cunning
crafty
wily old fox
Lǎo zǐ
Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism
the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經|道德经 by Laozi
lǎo sān sè
the three plain colors used for clothing in the PRC in the 1960s: black, gray and blue
lǎo zhàng ren
(coll.) father-in-law (wife's father)
fú lǎo xié yòu
taking everyone along, young and old
to look after the elderly and the young
Mián lán lǎo Dǎo
Mindanao (island in the Philippines)
mǔ lǎo hǔ
tigress
(fig.) fierce woman
vixen
huó dào lǎo , xué dào lǎo
One is never too old to learn. (idiom)
gǒu dǎi lǎo shǔ
lit. a dog who catches mice (idiom)
fig. to be meddlesome
shēng lǎo bìng sǐ
lit. to be born, to grow old, to get sick and to die
fig. the fate of humankind (i.e. mortality)
nán nǚ lǎo shào
men, women, young and old
all kinds of people
people of all ages
each and everyone
nán nǚ lǎo yòu
men, women, young and old
everybody
suàn lǎo jǐ
(coll.) (I, you etc) have what status
who am I (you etc)
zhōng lǎo
to spend one's last years