老

See also:耂

老	U+8001,老 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8001

←耀
[U+8000]

CJK Unified Ideographs

耂 →
[U+8002]

⽼	U+2F7C,⽼ KANGXI RADICAL OLD

←⽻
[U+2F7B]

Kangxi Radicals

⽽ →
[U+2F7D]

老	U+F934,老 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F934

←盧
[U+F933]

CJK Compatibility Ideographs

蘆 →
[U+F935]

Translingual

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Stroke order

Stroke order

Kangxi Dictionary:page 960, character 25
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 28842
Dae Jaweon: page 1407, character 8
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2778, character 1
Unihan data for U+8001

Unihan data for U+F934

Chinese

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trad.		老
simp.^#		老
alternative forms		𠄰𦒳𠈣

Glyph origin

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Historical forms of the character老
Shang	Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States			Shuowen Jiezi (compiled inHan)	Liushutong (compiled inMing)	Libian (compiled inQing)	Kangxi Dictionary (compiled inQing)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts	Clerical script	Ming typeface

Characters in the samephonetic series (老)(Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
老	*ruːʔ
姥	ruːʔ, maːʔ
栳	*ruːʔ
恅	*ruːʔ

Ideogrammic compound (會意 /会意):人(“man”) +毛(“hair”) +匕(“cane”) – a man with long hair (an old man), leaning on a cane. Compare top component to孝 (OC*qʰruːs).

Cognate to考 (OC*kʰluːʔ); the most commonly cited example of轉注 (“reciprocal meaning”).

Etymology

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Unknown. CompareProto-Sino-Tibetan*s-raw(“withered, residue, corpse”),*rwat(“stiff, tough”), whenceBurmeseရော်(rau,“wither, become overripe; age”),ရွတ်(rwat,“old, stiff, tough”). See also古 (gǔ),故 (gù).

An old Sino-Vietnamese borrowing isrệu(“overripe, pulpy”).

Pronunciation

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Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin):lǎo (lao³)
(Zhuyin):ㄌㄠˇ
(Chengdu,Sichuanese Pinyin):nao³
(Xi'an,Guanzhong Pinyin):lào
(Dungan,Cyrillic andWiktionary):ло (lo, II)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong,Jyutping):lou⁵
(Dongguan,Jyutping++):ngou⁵
(Taishan,Wiktionary):lau² / lau¹
(Yangjiang,Jyutping++):lou²
Gan(Wiktionary):lau³ / lau¹
Hakka
(Sixian,PFS):ló
(Hailu,HRS):lo^ˊ
(Meixian,Guangdong):lau³
Jin(Wiktionary):lau²
Northern Min(KCR):sē / la̿u / lo̤̿ / lǎu
Eastern Min(BUC):lâu / lō̤
Puxian Min(Pouseng Ping'ing):lao⁵ / lor³
Southern Min
(Hokkien,POJ):lāu /lǎu /láu /làu /lǎ /ló /ló͘ /nó͘
(Teochew,Peng'im):lao⁶ / lao²
(Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin):lao⁶ / lao²
Southern Pinghua(Nanning,Jyutping++):laau⁵
Wu(Northern,Wugniu):⁶lau /³lau;⁶lau
Xiang
(Changsha,Wiktionary):lau³
(Loudi,Wiktionary):leu³
(Hengyang,Wiktionary):lau³

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin:lǎo
  - Zhuyin:ㄌㄠˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin:lǎo
  - Wade–Giles:lao³
  - Yale:lǎu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh:lao
  - Palladius:лао(lao)
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lɑʊ̯²¹⁴/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin:nao³
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz:lao
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/nau⁵³/
- (Xi'an)
  - Guanzhong Pinyin:lào
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lau⁵³/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic andWiktionary:ло (lo, II)
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lɔ⁵¹/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese,Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping:lou⁵
  - Yale:lóuh
  - Cantonese Pinyin:lou⁵
  - Guangdong Romanization:lou⁵
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lou̯¹³/
- (Dongguan,Guancheng)
  - Jyutping++:ngou⁵
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/ŋɔu¹³/
- (Taishanese,Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary:lau² / lau¹
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lau⁵⁵/, /lau³³/

Note: lau1 - in老虎,老鼠.

- (Yangjiang Yue,Jiangcheng)
  - Jyutping++:lou²
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lou²¹/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary:lau³ / lau¹
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lau²¹³/, /lau⁴²/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl.Miaoli andNeipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ:ló
  - Hakka Romanization System:lo^ˋ
  - Hagfa Pinyim:lo³
  - SinologicalIPA:/lo³¹/
- (Hailu, incl.Zhudong)
  - Hakka Romanization System:lo^ˊ
  - SinologicalIPA:/lo²⁴/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong:lau³
  - SinologicalIPA:/lau³¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary:lau²
  - SinologicalIPA (old-style):/lau⁵³/
Northern Min
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized:sē / la̿u / lo̤̿ / lǎu
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/se⁵⁵/, /lau³³/, /lɔ³³/, /lau²¹/

Note:

sē, la̿u, lo̤̿ - vernacular;
lǎu - literary.

Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê:lâu / lō̤
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/l̃ɑu²⁴²/, /l̃o³³/

Note:

lâu - vernacular;
lō̤ - literary.

Puxian Min
- (Putian)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing:lao⁵
  - Báⁿ-uā-ci̍:lāu
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lau¹¹/
- (Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing:lao⁵
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lau²¹/
- (Putian)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing:lor³
  - Báⁿ-uā-ci̍:lô̤
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lɒ⁴⁵³/
- (Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing:lor³
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lɒ³³²/

Note:

lao5 - vernacular;
lor3 - literary.

Southern Min
- (Hokkien:Xiamen,Zhangzhou,GeneralTaiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī:lāu
  - Tâi-lô:lāu
  - Phofsit Daibuun:lau
  - IPA (Taipei,Kaohsiung):/lau³³/
  - IPA (Xiamen,Zhangzhou):/lau²²/
- (Hokkien:Quanzhou,Jinjiang,Philippines)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī:lǎu
  - Tâi-lô:lǎu
  - IPA (Jinjiang,Philippines):/lau³³/
  - IPA (Quanzhou):/lau²²/
- (Hokkien:Xiamen,Quanzhou,Zhangzhou,Jinjiang,GeneralTaiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī:láu
  - Tâi-lô:láu
  - Phofsit Daibuun:lao
  - IPA (Xiamen,Zhangzhou,Taipei):/lau⁵³/
  - IPA (Quanzhou,Jinjiang):/lau⁵⁵⁴/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung):/lau⁴¹/
- (Hokkien:Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī:làu
  - Tâi-lô:làu
  - Phofsit Daibuun:laux
  - IPA (Quanzhou):/lau⁴¹/
- (Hokkien:Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī:lǎ
  - Tâi-lô:lǎ
  - IPA (Quanzhou):/la²²/
- (Hokkien:Xiamen,Zhangzhou,GeneralTaiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī:ló
  - Tâi-lô:ló
  - Phofsit Daibuun:loir
  - IPA (Kaohsiung):/lɤ⁴¹/
  - IPA (Xiamen,Zhangzhou,Taipei):/lo⁵³/
- (Hokkien:Quanzhou,Jinjiang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī:ló͘
  - Tâi-lô:lóo
  - Phofsit Daibuun:lor
  - IPA (Quanzhou,Jinjiang):/lɔ⁵⁵⁴/
- (Hokkien:Quanzhou,Jinjiang,GeneralTaiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī:nó͘
  - Tâi-lô:nóo
  - Phofsit Daibuun:nor
  - IPA (Quanzhou,Jinjiang):/nɔ̃⁵⁵⁴/
  - IPA (Taipei):/nɔ̃⁵³/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung):/nɔ̃⁴¹/

Note:

lāu/lǎu - vernacular;
láu - vernacular (sometimes considered literary);
làu - vernacular (limited, e.g.老闆);
lǎ - vernacular (limited, e.g.老鶚);
ló/ló͘/nó͘ - literary.

(Teochew)
- Peng'im:lao⁶ / lao²
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like:lău / láu
- SinologicalIPA^(key):/lau³⁵/, /lau⁵²/

Note:

lao6 - vernacular;
lao2 - literary.

(Leizhou)
- Leizhou Pinyin:lao⁶ / lao²
- SinologicalIPA:/lau³³/, /lau³¹/

Note:

lao6 - vernacular;
lao2 - literary.

Southern Pinghua
- (Nanning Pinghua,Tingzi)
  - Jyutping++:laau⁵
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lau²⁴/
Wu
- (Northern:Shanghai,Suzhou)
  - Wugniu:⁶lau
  - MiniDict:lau^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai):³lau
  - SinologicalIPA (Shanghai):/lɔ²³/
  - SinologicalIPA (Suzhou):/læ²³¹/
- (Northern:Hangzhou)
  - Wugniu:³lau;⁶lau
  - MiniDict:'lau^上; lau^去
  - SinologicalIPA (Hangzhou):/lɔ⁵³/,/lɔ¹¹³/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary:lau³
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lɒu̯⁴¹/
- (Loudi)
  - Wiktionary:leu³
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lɤ⁴²/
- (Hengyang)
  - Wiktionary:lau³
  - SinologicalIPA^(key):/lɑʊ̯³³/

Middle Chinese:lawX

Rime
Character	老
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	來 (37)
Final (韻)	豪 (89)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	盧晧切
Baxter	lawX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/lɑu^X/
Pan Wuyun	/lɑu^X/
Shao Rongfen	/lɑu^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/law^X/
Li Rong	/lɑu^X/
Wang Li	/lɑu^X/
Bernhard Karlgren	/lɑu^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	lǎo
Expected Cantonese Reflex	lou⁵

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart):/*C.rˤuʔ/
(Zhengzhang):/*ruːʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	老
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	lǎo
Middle Chinese	‹ law^X ›
Old Chinese	/*C.rˁuʔ/
English	old
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	老
Reading #	1/1
No.	7666
Phonetic component	老
Rime group	幽
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	老
Old Chinese	/*ruːʔ/

Definitions

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老

old;aged;senior;elderly
Antonyms:幼,少
老樹／老树 ― lǎoshù ― old tree
老婦人／老妇人 ― lǎo fùrén ― old woman
人老了記性就差了。[MSC,trad.]
人老了记性就差了。[MSC,simp.]
Rénlǎo le jìxìng jiù chā le.[Pinyin]
One's memory worsens when age increases.
老布什 ― lǎo Bùshí ― BushSr. (George H. W. Bush)
old (as opposed tonew); oflong standing
Antonym:新(xīn)
老歌 ― lǎo gē ― old song
老朋友 ― lǎopéngyǒu ― old friend
outdated;old-fashioned
original;former
老地方 ― lǎo dìfāng ― usual place
老本行 ― lǎo běnháng ― original profession
theelderly; one'selders
敬老 ― jìnglǎo ― to respectthe elderly
- 老吾老，以及人之老。[Traditional Chinese poetry,trad. andsimp.]
  From:Mencius,c. 4^th centuryBCE
  Lǎo wúlǎo, yǐjí rén zhīlǎo.[Pinyin]
  Respect myelders, and then others'elders.
Used after the surname of an old person to address a venerable old person
王老 ― Wánglǎo ― revered old Wang
(figurative)experienced
Antonym:嫩(nèn)
老手 ― lǎoshǒu ― anold hand
老兵 ― lǎobīng ― veteran
- 樊遲請學稼，子曰：「吾不如老農。」[Traditional Chinese poetry,trad.]
  樊迟请学稼，子曰：「吾不如老农。」[Traditional Chinese poetry,simp.]
  From: TheAnalects of Confucius,c. 475 – 221BCE, translated based onJames Legge's version
  Fán Chí qǐng xué jià, Zǐ yuē: “Wú bùrúlǎonóng.”[Pinyin]
  Fan Chi asked (Confucius) to teach him husbandry. The Master said, "I'm nowhere as good as anexperienced farmhand."
(literary) torespect (the elderly, one's elders)
- 老吾老，以及人之老。[Traditional Chinese poetry,trad. andsimp.]
  From:Mencius,c. 4^th centuryBCE
  Lǎo wú lǎo, yǐjí rén zhī lǎo.[Pinyin]
  Respect my elders, and then others' elders.
(ofcooked food)overcooked;tough;stringy;hard
牛排太老了，我咬不動它。[MSC,trad.]
牛排太老了，我咬不动它。[MSC,simp.]
Niúpái tàilǎo le, wǒ yǎo bù dòng tā.[Pinyin]
The steak was sotough I couldn't eat it.
這雞蛋煮老了，你沒掌握好火候。[MSC,trad.]
这鸡蛋煮老了，你没掌握好火候。[MSC,simp.]
Zhè jīdàn zhǔlǎo le, nǐ méi zhǎngwò hǎo huǒhòu.[Pinyin]
This egg ishard; you didn't time it properly.
(offood orpotable liquids)stale; notfresh
always;all the time
你別老這樣！／你别老这样！ ― Nǐ biélǎo zhèyàng! ― Stop beingalways like this!
(chieflydialectal)very;quite
老早 ― lǎozǎo ― very early
他人老好了。 ― Tā rénlǎo hǎo le. ― He issuch a nice person! [colloquial, somewhat regional]
看到儂真個老開心個。[Shanghainese,trad.]
看到侬真个老开心个。[Shanghainese,simp.]
⁵khoe-tau⁶non¹tsen-gheq⁶lau¹khe-shin-gheq[Wugniu]
Iam really happy to see you.
(euphemistic, of an elderly person) todie; topass away(usually with了 (le) or掉 (diào))
- 1928,魯迅 [Lu Xun], “阿長與《山海經》 [Ah-Chang and theClassic of Mountains and Seas]”, in朝花夕拾:
  她教給我的道理還很多，例如說人死了，不該說死掉，必須說「老掉了」。[MSC,trad.]
  她教给我的道理还很多，例如说人死了，不该说死掉，必须说「老掉了」。[MSC,simp.]
  Tā jiào gěi wǒ de dàolǐ hái hěnduō, lìrú shuō rén sǐle, bùgāi shuō sǐdiào, bìxū shuō “lǎo diào le”.[Pinyin]
  She's taught me many more such lessons, for example, when someone dies, one ought not speak of their "death", but rather their"passing".
- 1996, Tang Zhenzhu, Wu Xinmin, Wu Xinxian,寧波方言詞典, page80:
  等我老勒仔，墳做勒鄉下頭去。[Ningbonese,trad.]
  等我老勒仔，坟做勒乡下头去。[Ningbonese,simp.]
  When Idie I want to have my grave in the countryside.
(endearing, respectful)Used before surnames to refer to heads or elder members of families.
Coordinate term:(for younger people)小(xiǎo)
老張馬上來了，我得趕緊收拾一下屋子。[MSC,trad.]
老张马上来了，我得赶紧收拾一下屋子。[MSC,simp.]
Lǎo Zhāng mǎshàng lái le, wǒ děi gǎnjǐn shōushí yī xià wū zǐ.[Pinyin]
Old Zhang is going to be here any minute. I need to hurry up and straighten the room up a bit.
(usually respectful andendearing)Used by analogy in several other relationship terms.
老師／老师 ― lǎoshī ― teacher
老婆 ― lǎopó ― wifey
老公 ― lǎogōng ― hubby
(originallyhonorific)Prefix for animals or people considered senior, fierce, and often awe-inspiring.
老鷹／老鹰 ― lǎoyīng ― eagle
老虎 ― lǎohǔ ― tiger
老鼠 ― lǎoshǔ ― mouse, rat;(obsolete) bat
老狼 ― lǎoláng ― (rare) elder and experienced wolf
老貓／老猫 ― lǎomāo ― (rare) elder (potentially annoying) cat
老狐狸 ― lǎohúlí ― (surviving usage) elder, cunning and experienced fox
老傢夥／老家伙 ― lǎojiāhuǒ ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
老東西／老东西 ― lǎodōngxī ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
老雜碎／老杂碎 ― lǎozásuì ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
(Cantonese,colloquial)Prefix for nouns with negative impressions or connotations.
老強／老强[Hong Kong Cantonese] ― lou⁵ koeng^4-2[Jyutping] ― rape
老作[Cantonese] ― lou⁵ zok³[Jyutping] ― made-up
發老脾／发老脾[Cantonese] ― faat³lou⁵ pei^4-2[Jyutping] ― to get angry
老解[Hong Kong Cantonese] ― lou⁵ gaai²[Jyutping] ― People's Liberation Army
(Cantonese,colloquial)Prefix for nouns to express familiarity.
老尖[Hong Kong Cantonese] ― lou⁵ zim¹[Jyutping] ― Tsim Sha Tsui
老銅／老铜[Hong Kong Cantonese] ― lou⁵ tung^4-2[Jyutping] ― Causeway Bay
(colloquial)Used before nouns, especially names of ethnicities, places and countries, to form nouns.
老外 ― lǎowài ― foreigner;(pejorative) layman, one who lacks knowledge of a subject
老美 ― lǎoměi ― Yank
老表 ― lǎobiǎo ― a friend (direct speech, may be intimate or offensive depending on provinces)
老毛子 ― lǎomáozi ― (pejorative) Russian person
老蒙古 ― lǎoménggǔ ― (pejorative) Mongols
老北京 ― lǎoběijīng ― indigenous Beijing person
老山東／老山东 ― lǎoshāndōng ― indigenous Shandong person
老西兒／老西儿 ― lǎoxīr ― (affectionate) Shanxi person
老回回 ― lǎohuíhuí ― Hui person (affectionate in some cases, pejorative in other cases, never neutral, depends on the region, speaker, listener, situation and speaking mood)
Short for老子 (Lǎozǐ, “Laozi; Lao Tzu”).
(Mainland China,Hong Kong)Short for老撾／老挝 (Lǎowō, “Laos”).

Synonyms

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(old):

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下架(xia⁵ jia⁴)(Xiang)
垂老(chuílǎo)(literary)
年歲大 /年岁大(niánsuì dà)
年紀大 /年纪大(niánjì dà)
年老(niánlǎo)
年長 /年长(niánzhǎng)
老大(lǎodà)(literary)
老邁 /老迈(lǎomài)(senile)
蒼老 /苍老(cānglǎo)
衰老(shuāilǎo)(senile)

(very):

Dialectal synonyms of很 (“very”)[map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		甚,孔
Formal(Written Standard Chinese)		很,非常,十分
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	挺,很,倍兒,怪
	Taiwan	很,好,非常,超,蠻,超級
	Malaysia	很
	Singapore	很,蠻,非常
Jilu Mandarin	Tianjin	挺,很,傻,老,倍兒,齁兒
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	挺,楞
Central Plains Mandarin	Xi'an	很
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	很,好
	Chongqing	很
	Wuhan	蠻,很
Jianghuai Mandarin	Yangzhou	蠻,稀,很
Jianghuai Mandarin	Hefei	很
Cantonese	Guangzhou	好,非常之
	Hong Kong	好,非常,非常之,超,勁,十分之,無敵
	Zhongshan(Shiqi)	好
	Taishan	好,十分之
	Yangjiang	好
	Kuala Lumpur(Guangfu)	好
	Singapore(Guangfu)	好,非常之,非常
Gan	Nanchang	蠻
Hakka	Meixian	好,刮,已,還,異,還 exclamation
	Huidong(Daling)	好
	Wuhua(Meilin)	好
	Shaoguan(Qujiang)	頂
	Lianshan(Xiaosanjiang)	好
	Changting	野
	Wuping(Pingyu)	已,刮
	Liancheng	樣
	Ninghua	好
	Ruijin	蠻
	Shicheng	蠻
	Shangyou(Shexi)	蠻
	Miaoli(N. Sixian)	當,已,還
	Pingtung(Neipu; S. Sixian)	蓋,盡,還
	Hsinchu County(Zhudong; Hailu)	當,盡,已,還
	Taichung(Dongshi; Dabu)	當,已,還
	Hsinchu County(Qionglin; Raoping)	當,已,還
	Yunlin(Lunbei; Zhao'an)	足,真,實在
	Hong Kong	好
	Sabah(Bao'an)	好
	Kuching(Hepo)	很
	Singapore(Dabu)	好
Jin	Taiyuan	很,挺
Northern Min	Jian'ou	盡
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	野,真
	Singapore(Fuqing)	真
	Sitiawan(Gutian)	真
Southern Min	Xiamen	真,野,誠,有夠,萬代,死人,非常,真正,設汰,一
	Xiamen(Tong'an)	真
	Quanzhou	真,野,誠,有夠,萬代,死人,設汰
	Jinjiang	野,萬代
	Zhangzhou	盡,蓋,足,足範,有夠,出奇,極死,見死,死了了,死人,設汰,設汰仔
	Zhao'an	很,真,死絕,好,非常
	Dongshan	真,非常
	Taipei	真,誠
	New Taipei(Sanxia)	真,誠
	Kaohsiung	有夠,足,真,誠,蓋
	Yilan	有夠,足,誠,盡
	Changhua(Lukang)	真,誠
	Taichung	誠,蓋,足
	Tainan	有夠,足,真,誠,蓋
	Hsinchu	真,誠
	Kinmen	足,誠
	Penghu(Magong)	真,誠
	Penang(Hokkien)	真,誠,真正
	Singapore(Hokkien)	真,死爸,真正,誠,足,有夠
	Manila(Hokkien)	野,真,萬代,真誠,誠,有夠
	Chaozhou	過,好,非常,死爸
	Shantou	過,鐵,好,很,死爸,死絕
	Shantou(Chenghai)	好,死絕
	Shantou(Chaoyang)	好,非常
	Jieyang	過,好,死爸,死絕
	Bangkok(Teochew)	好
	Johor Bahru(Teochew)	好
	Singapore(Teochew)	真,死爸,非常
	Wenchang	極,但顧,真
	Haikou	但顧
	Qionghai	但顧,真
	Singapore(Hainanese)	但顧,真
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan(Longdu, Shaxi)	好,蠻
Wu	Shanghai	蠻,老,邪氣,老老,瞎,絕,十分,十二萬分,非常,非常之,畢,畢畢,來得,來得個,煞,交關,十二分 rare,窮 dated,野 dated,邪 dated
	Suzhou	蠻,窮
	Hangzhou	蠻,交關,木佬佬,冒
	Ningbo	交關,蠻,堪,𣍐好,𣍐派,甮派,出格,木牢牢 rare,猛 rare
	Zhoushan	交關,蠻,猛,堪,出格,木牢牢 rare
	Wenzhou	蠻,蒙,顯
Xiang	Changsha	很,蠻
Xiang	Shuangfeng	蠻

(to die):

Dialectal synonyms of死 (“to die”)[map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		死,亡,歿,卒
Formal(Written Standard Chinese)		死,死亡,亡故,喪生,喪命,去世 †,過世 †,逝世 †,離世 †,下世 †,不在 †,過去 †,仙逝 †,歸天 †,歸西 †,升天 †,作古 †,長眠 †,閉眼 †,故去 †, ‡,故世 †, ‡,一命嗚呼,謝世,離開人間
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	死,撂,撂條,故去 †,吹燈 †,吹燈拔蠟 †,吹臺 †,老 †, ‡,踹腿 ¤,踹腿兒 ¤,踹 ¤,回姥姥家 ¤,彎回去 †,毛兒提 Hui
	Taiwan	死,過世 †
	Harbin	死,老 †, ‡,伸腿兒 ¤,伸腿 ¤,蹬腿兒 ¤,奔兒咕 ¤,桿兒屁 §,桿兒細 §,吹燈拔蠟
	Singapore	死,死掉,死翹翹,過世 †,去世 †,上天堂 †,賣鹹鴨蛋 †
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	死,歿,過去 †,老 †, ‡,不在 †, ‡,王八 §,完蛋,完錢,完活,無常 Hui,歸主 Hui,歸真 Hui
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Yantai(Muping)	死,老 †, ‡,上西天 §
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	死,過去,過世,下世,亡故,不在,升天,去世 †,老 †, ‡,擱那兒 ¤
	Wanrong	死,歿,老 †, ‡
	Xi'an	死,不在 †,老 †, ‡,無常 Hui
	Xining	歿
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	死,走 †,歿 Hui,歸真 Hui,冒提 Hui,口喚 Hui,無常 Hui,完 Hui
	Lanzhou	死,過世 †,緩下 †,躺下 †
	Ürümqi	死,過世 †,不在 †
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	死,過去 †,不在 †,去 †,過世 †,老 †, ‡,撬桿兒 §,撬桿 §,翹辮子 §,見馬克思,歸天,去陰國,爬高煙囪,落氣,冰凊,沒脈
	Wuhan	死,過身 †,去 †,老 †, ‡,去回 ¤,翹辮子 ¤,翹 ¤,瓜碼子 ¤,瓜 ¤,西皮
	Guiyang	死,過世 †,成神 †, ‡,百年歸天 †, ‡,嗚呼 ¤
	Guilin	死
	Liuzhou	死,沒得脈,過世 †,過身 †,沒在 †,哦嚄
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	死,過世 †,歸天 †, ‡,不在 †,嗝兒得 ¤,翹辮子 ¤
	Yangzhou	死,不在 †,走 †,家去吃去 ¤,家去 ¤,翹辮子 ¤,翹 ¤,駝條 §
	Hefei	死,不在 †,老 †
Cantonese	Guangzhou	死,過身 †,過世 †,老 †, ‡,百年歸老 †, ‡,去別有天 †, ¤,去大煙筒 †, ¤,瓜 ¤,瓜老襯 ¤,收檔 ¤,攞竇 ¤,進竇 §,瓜竇,直,瓜直,死直,攤直,雙腳撐直,伸直腳,拉柴,瓜柴,褸席,歸西,歸天,食黃泥,入黃泥窿,入窿,玩完,嫌米貴,瞇埋眼,一 argot,唔食廣東米
	Hong Kong	死,過身 †,走 †,香 †,去 †,唔喺度 †,百年歸老 †,賣鹹鴨蛋 †,兩腳一伸 †,仙遊 †,拜拜 †,去閻羅王處報到 †,瓜 ¤,瓜老襯 ¤,拉柴,瓜柴,釘蓋,釘,直,歸西,玩完,ham
	Hong Kong(San Tin; Weitou)	過身
	Hong Kong(Kam Tin; Weitou)	過身
	Hong Kong(Ting Kok)	過身,死
	Hong Kong(Tung Ping Chau)	過身
	Macau	過身,去
	Guangzhou(Panyu)	過身,死
	Guangzhou(Huashan, Huadu)	死
	Guangzhou(Conghua)	過身,死
	Guangzhou(Zengcheng)	去歸,過身
	Foshan	過身,死
	Foshan(Shatou, Nanhai)	死,過身
	Foshan(Shunde)	過身
	Foshan(Sanshui)	過身
	Foshan(Mingcheng, Gaoming)	死
	Zhongshan(Shiqi)	過身
	Zhuhai(Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	死
	Zhuhai(Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	過身,死
	Zhuhai(Doumen)	死,過身
	Jiangmen(Baisha)	過身,死
	Jiangmen(Xinhui)	死,過身
	Taishan	死,善,去
	Kaiping(Chikan)	死,登仙
	Enping(Niujiang)	過身,死
	Heshan(Yayao)	死
	Dongguan	死,老 †,去返 †,去舊時嗰處 †,視埋眼 †,伸直腳 †,入罌 †,拉柴 §,去大煙筒 §
	Shenzhen(Shajing, Bao'an)	死,過身
	Yangjiang	死,過輩 †,老 †, ‡,老大 †, ‡
	Singapore(Guangfu)	死,過身 †
Gan	Nanchang	死,過世 †,老 †
	Lichuan	死
	Pingxiang	死,過 †,走路 †,老 †, ‡,去
Hakka	Meixian	死,老,過身 †,消 †,老壽 †, ‡
	Huizhou(Huicheng; Bendihua)	過身,香 †
	Dongguan(Qingxi)	過身,死
	Shenzhen(Shatoujiao)	死,過身
	Zhongshan(Nanlang Heshui)	死
	Guangzhou(Lütian, Conghua)	死,過身
	Yudu	死,過世 †,過套 †,過身 †,轉去 †,轉該背 †,歸仙 †,轉老外婆裡 ¤
	Miaoli(N. Sixian)	死,消,過身 †,往生 †,上神桌 †,轉長山賣鴨卵 †
	Pingtung(Neipu; S. Sixian)	死,消,過身 †,往生 †,上神桌 †,轉長山賣鴨卵 †
	Hsinchu County(Zhudong; Hailu)	死,消,過身 †,往生 †,上神桌 †,轉長山賣鴨卵 †
	Taichung(Dongshi; Dabu)	死,消,過身 †,往生 †,上神桌 †,轉長山賣鴨卵 †
	Hsinchu County(Qionglin; Raoping)	死,消,過身 †,往生 †,上神桌 †,轉長山賣鴨卵 †
	Miaoli(Zhuolan; Raoping)	消
	Yunlin(Lunbei; Zhao'an)	死,過身 †,上神桌 †,轉長山賣鴨卵 †
	Hong Kong	過身,老
Huizhou	Jixi	死,過世 †,過輩 †,過身 †,不在 †,過老 §,過邊 §,進棺材 §,進風水 §,翹扁 §, ¤
Jin	Taiyuan	死,沒啦 †,走 †,過去 †,老 †, ‡,老客 †, ‡
Jin	Xinzhou	死,回老家 †,硬 §,㞗朝天 of a man, vulgar,倒蕎麥皮
Northern Min	Jian'ou	死,過身 †,老 †, ‡
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	死,過去 †,過世 †,過後 †,歸西 †,百歲 †,老去 †, ‡,堯街去 ¤,堯生去 ¤,溜翹 ¤,殂 ¤,去算米數 ¤,去外媽食齋 ¤,去外媽 ¤,去䁐廬山 ¤,去厝去 ¤,睏長暝眠 ¤,翹齋 ¤,揭兜去 ¤,拔直去 ¤,上天去 ¤,生去 ¤,𣪟去 ¤,䁐松柏樹 ¤,䁐松柏 ¤,轉祖 §
Southern Min	Xiamen	死,過身 †,過氣 †,百歲 †,百年 †,百歲年老 †,行去 †,無去 †,㾀 †,去塗州賣鴨卵 †,老去 †, ‡,老咯 †, ‡,蟯 ¤,蟯歹 ¤,蟯癱 ¤,行雞 ¤,馬滴 §
	Quanzhou	死,過身 †,過氣 †,百歲 †,百年 †,無去 †,去塗州賣鴨卵 †,老去 †, ‡,老咯 †, ‡,行雞 ¤,馬滴 §
	Yongchun	死,過身 †,老去 †
	Zhangzhou	死,過身 †,過氣 †,百歲 †,百年 †,百歲年老 †,行去 †,無去 †,起身 †,去塗州賣鴨卵 †,老去 †, ‡,老咯 †, ‡,蟯 ¤,蟯歹 ¤,蟯癱 ¤,行雞 ¤,誆牽 §,㾀 §,㾀歹 §,馬滴 §
	Taipei	死去,老 †,過身 †
	New Taipei(Sanxia)	死去,老去 †,往生 †,過身 †
	Kaohsiung	死去,老去 †,行去 †,往生 †,無佇咧 †,過身 †,轉去 †
	Yilan	死去,老去 †,往生 †,無佇咧 †,過身 †,過往 †
	Changhua(Lukang)	死去,老 †,無去 †,過身 †,轉去 †
	Taichung	死去,往生 †,過身 †
	Tainan	死去,老去 †,行去 †,往生 †,無佇咧 †,過身 †,轉去 †,去塗州賣鴨卵 †,去蘇州賣鴨卵 †,轉去塗州賣鴨卵 †,轉去蘇州賣鴨卵 †
	Hsinchu	曲去,去咯 †,往生 †,過身 †,老去 †
	Kinmen	死去,往生 †,過身 †,行去 †
	Penghu(Magong)	死去,往生 †,過身 †,老去 †
	Singapore(Hokkien)	死,馬滴,死翹翹,過身 †,百年 †,百歲 †,過氣 †,起車 †,老去 †,老咯 †,行去 †,蟯去 †,吭跤翹 †,交登記 †
	Manila(Hokkien)	死,死去,過面 †,過身 †,老去 †
	Chaozhou	死,過身 †,過世 †
	Jieyang	過身,吭跤翹,吭翹
	Singapore(Teochew)	死,過身
	Leizhou	死,過世 †,過輩 †,過目焗 ¤,直筒 §,刮薯減米 §
	Haikou	死,過層 †, ‡,老 †, ‡,貓使 §
	Singapore(Hainanese)	死
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan(Longdu, Shaxi)	死
Southern Pinghua	Nanning(Tingzi)	死,瓜老襯,過世,歸西
Wu	Shanghai	死,故 †,過世 †,嘸沒 †,一腳去 †,翹辮子 §, ¤,彈老三 §,翹老三 §
	Shanghai(Chongming)	死,老 †,故 †,翹辮子 ¤
	Suzhou	死,壞,去,過世 †,翹辮子 §
	Danyang	死
	Hangzhou	死,故 †,過世 †,翹辮兒 ¤,到龍駒塢去
	Ningbo	死,翹辮子 §,過世 †,嘸沒 †,死脫 §,燂茶,山裡去,吃豆腐羹,嘸沒來的 †,老 †
	Wenzhou	死,冇 †,過輩 †, ‡,蹻 ¤
	Jinhua	死,過世 †,過輩 †,弗在 †,老 †, ‡
Xiang	Changsha	死,過 †,去 †,瓜,彈,彈四郎
	Loudi	死,過世 †,故 †,上岸 †
	Shuangfeng	死,過世 †,故 †
	Hengyang	死
Note	† - euphemistic; ‡ - usually of the elderly; ¤ - humorous; § - derogatory/disrespectful

Antonyms

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(antonym(s) of“old”):嫩 (nèn),幼 (yòu)

Compounds

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Descendants

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Sino-Xenic (老):

→ Korean:로/노(老)(ro/no)
→ Vietnamese:lão(老)

References

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“老”, in漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1],香港中文大學 (theChinese University of Hong Kong),2014–
Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A03251

Japanese

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Kanji

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See also:

Category:Japanese terms spelled with 老

老

(Fourth grade kyōiku kanji)

old age, anelderly person, theaged, theelderly

Readings

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Go-on:ろう(rō,Jōyō)^{←らう(rau,historical)}
Kan-on:ろう(rō,Jōyō)^{←らう(rau,historical)}
Kun:おいる(oiru,老いる,Jōyō)、ふける(fukeru,老ける,Jōyō)、おい(oi)
Nanori:えび(ebi)、おい(oi)、び(bi)

Compounds

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Korean

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Etymology

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FromMiddle Chinese老 (MC lawX).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	로ᇢ〯 (Yale:lwǒw)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
Text	*Gloss (hun)*	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527^[2]	늘글〮 (Yale:nùlkúl)	로〯 (Yale:lwŏ)

Pronunciation

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(SK Standard/Seoul)IPA^(key):[ɾo̞(ː)] ~ [no̞(ː)]
Phonetic hangul:[로(ː)/노(ː)]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.