COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 老 is built
Traditional etymology note: A person bent over with long hair 匕 and a crutch; compare 耂
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How to Write 老 (lǎo) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
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
lǎoTone 3 (Dipping)Let your pitch fall, then rise.
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STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 6 strokes in the correct order.
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StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
lǎo
老
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
Common words
lǎo shī
老师
teacher
lǎo rén
老人
old man or woman; the elderly; one's aged parents or grandparents
lǎo hǔ
老虎
tiger
lǎo jiā
老家
native place; place of origin; home state or region
lǎo nián
老年
elderly; old age; autumn of one's years
lǎo shì
老是
always
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
老
老
老
老
老
老
老
老
LEARNING TIP
Remember 老
Say “lǎo” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 6 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 老
Common words and phrases
lǎo shī
teacher
lǎo rén
old man or woman; the elderly; one's aged parents or grandparents
lǎo hǔ
tiger
lǎo jiā
native place; place of origin; home state or region
lǎo nián
elderly; old age; autumn of one's years
lǎo shì
always
IN CONTEXT
Example sentences
这个字是“老”。
Zhège zì shì “lǎo”.
This character is “老”.
我正在学习“老”字。
Wǒ zhèngzài xuéxí “lǎo” zì.
I am learning the character “老”.
请写一遍“老”。
Qǐng xiě yí biàn “lǎo”.
Please write “老” once.
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 老?
老 is written with 6 strokes.
What does 老 (lǎo) mean?
老 (lǎo) means 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.
What is the radical of 老?
The radical of 老 is 老, associated with Not yet classified.