[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Interpersonal-Relationships \ #Society-and-Culture # 老 lǎo old ## Components [[耂 (lǎo)]] [[匕 bǐ]] [[匕 (bǐ)]] ## Meaning Today, the character 老 (lǎo) is commonly used in modern Mandarin Chinese to denote "old" or "elderly." It still retains its original meaning of describing someone advanced in age, but it's also used more broadly to refer to anything that is old or aged. Additionally, it can signify experience, wisdom, or maturity when used to describe a person or their qualities. For example, "老师" (lǎo shī) means "teacher," and "老鼠" (lǎo shǔ) means "mouse," while "老板" (lǎo bǎn) refers to a boss or employer. Overall, it carries connotations of respect, age, and experience in contemporary usage. ## History The character 老 (lǎo) originally depicted an elderly person with sparse hair, walking slowly with a cane. It is a compound ideograph, combining elements that resemble an elderly individual and a cane. In ancient times, it was used as a term of respect for elders, and this usage persists today, such as in "老大爷" (lǎo dà yé) to address elderly men respectfully. Over time, 老 extended to mean "aged" or "experienced," reflecting the idea of someone who has lived a long time and gained wisdom. This sense is seen in expressions like "老成" (lǎo chéng), meaning mature or seasoned The "Shuōwén • Lǎobù" defines 老 as "to age," specifically referring to someone aged seventy or older. It indicates the aging process, particularly the graying of hair. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[老oracular.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[老 bronze.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[老seal.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[老 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[老 reg.svg]]