老 lou⁵ {lǎo}

(adjective) overlooked

老 lou⁵ {lǎo}

1. 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
2. old (of people)
3. venerable (person)
4. experienced
5. of long standing
6. always
7. all the time
8. of the past
9. very
10. outdated
11. (of meat etc) tough

老伯 lou⁵ baak³ {lǎobó}

(noun) Male senior

老闆〔-板〕 lou⁵ baan² {lǎo bǎn}

(noun) employer

老爆 lou⁵ baau³ {lǎo bào}

burglary; to burgle

老餅〔-饼〕 lou⁵ beng² {lǎo bǐng}

old guy (spoken)

老表 lou⁵ biu² {lǎo biǎo}

(relatives) cousins

老柴 lou⁵ caai⁴ {lǎo chái}

a derogratory way to address an old man; old fellow

老親〔-亲〕 lou⁵ can¹ {lǎo qīn}

elderly parents; relatives

老襯〔-衬〕 lou⁵ can³ {lǎo chèn}

(slang) to be a groom (going to get married); someone who can easily be tricked by others; a mug; a dupe; a gull; a chump; patsy

老處〔-处〕 lou⁵ cyu² {lǎo chǔ}

old virgin (spoken)

老旦 lou⁵ daan² {lǎo dàn}

a type of actress in Chinese operas that act in the roles of old female characters

老竇〔-窦〕 lou⁵ dau⁶ {lǎo dòu}

(noun) father; dad; daddy

老豆 lou⁵ dau⁶ {lǎo dòu}

(slang) father; dad; daddy

老點〔-点〕 lou⁵ dim² {lǎo diǎn}

to lie to; to trick

老頂〔-顶〕 lou⁵ ding² {lǎo dǐng}

boss (spoken)

老定 lou⁵ ding⁶ {lǎo dìng}

(adjective) unflappable; calm; self-possessed; confident; composed

老番 lou⁵ faan¹ {lǎo fān}

(slang) Western people; Caucasians; a Westerner

老翻 lou⁵ faan¹ {lǎo fān}

(n.) refers to illegal / pirated copies of something, such as CDs or handbags; (adj.) to describe something that is counterfeited

老翻 lou⁵ faan¹ {Lǎo fān}

pirated goods

老幾〔-几〕 lou⁵ gei² {lǎo jǐ}

order of seniority; level; can be used in a rhetorical question to express the insignificance of a person (in a disdainful manner)

老舉〔-举〕 lou⁵ geoi² {lǎo jǔ}

prositute (spoken)

老薑〔-姜〕 lou⁵ goeng¹ {lǎo jiāng}

aged ginger

老倌 lou⁵ gun¹ {lǎo guān}

a reputable actor, usually an opera actor

老公 lou⁵ gung¹ {lǎo gong}

(noun) husband

老鬼 lou⁵ gwai² {lǎo guǐ}

an old person (colloquial or derogatory)

老坑 lou⁵ haang¹ {lǎo kēng}

old people

老爺〔-爷〕 lou⁵ je⁴ {lǎo ye}

(noun) honorific term for a wife to call her husband's father

老嘢 lou⁵ je⁵ {lǎo yě}

old man (impolite term)

老野 lou⁵ je⁵ {lǎo yě}

old man (impolite term)

老襟 lou⁵ kam¹ {lǎo jīn}

the name two or multiple male address each other if they have sexual relationship with the same woman (spoken)

老笠 lou⁵ lap¹ {lǎo lì}

robbery

老廉 lou⁵ lim⁴ {Lǎo Lián}

Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)

老麥〔-麦〕 lou⁵ mak² {lǎo mài}

McDonald's fast food restaurant

老母 lou⁵ mou² {lǎo mǔ}

(n.) Mother (often used in an offensive manner when swearing at someone).

老毛 lou⁵ mou⁴ {lǎo máo}

Chairman Mao

老衲 lou⁵ naap⁶ {lǎo nà}

old monk

老泥 lou⁵ nai⁴ {lǎo ní}

the mixture of dirt and dead skin on the surface of the skin; literally 'old mud'

老藕 lou⁵ ngau⁵ {lǎo ǒu}

(literally: old lotus root); an unattractive elderly woman

老鵬〔-鹏〕 lou⁵ paang² {lǎo péng}

old Pang; an old friend

老朋 lou⁵ pang⁴ {lǎo péng}

good or best friend; mates (spoken)

老脾 lou⁵ pei⁴ {lǎo pí}

tantrum; emotional outbreak (spoken)

老編〔-编〕 lou⁵ pin¹ {lǎo biān}

senior editor (spoken)

老西 lou⁵ sai¹ {lǎo xī}

a suit; a westerner

老細〔-细〕 lou⁵ sai³ {lǎo xì}

(n. / appellation) generally refers to the boss or senior colleagues, such as manager or department head; owner of a shop; refers to your client

老身 lou⁵ san¹ {lǎo shēn}

old woman referring to oneself

老手 lou⁵ sau² {lǎo shǒu}

(noun) Veteran of something

老死 lou⁵ sei² {lǎo sǐ}

best friend (spoken)

老水 lou⁵ seoi² {lǎo shuǐ}

seasoned; experienced

老屈 lou⁵ wat¹ {lǎo qū}

to wrongly accuse someone; to frame someone

老雜〔-杂〕 lou⁵ zaap⁶ {lǎo zá}

a police officer who investigates crimes

老積〔-积〕 lou⁵ zik¹ {lǎo jī}

(adj.) describes a young person or a child who behaves and thinks in a mature way; a young but worldly person

老尖 lou⁵ zim¹ {lǎo jiān}

Tsim Sha Tsui (spoken)

老雀 lou⁵ zoek³ {lǎo què}

thief; pickpocket (slang)

老作 lou⁵ zok³ {lǎo zuò}

faking (spoken)

老祖 lou⁵ zou² {lǎo zǔ}

ancestor (spoken)

老宗 lou⁵ zung¹ {lǎo zōng}

a distant relative who shares a common ancestor; someone of the same clan; someone with a same surname

老爸 lou⁵ baa¹ {lǎo bà}

1. father
2. dad

老伯 lou⁵ baak³ {lǎo bó}

uncle (polite form of address for older male)

老闆〔-板〕 lou⁵ baan² {lǎo bǎn}

1. boss
2. business proprietor
3. CL: 個

老闆〔-板〕 lou⁵ baan² {Lǎo bǎn}

Robam (brand)

老邊〔-边〕 lou⁵ bin¹ {Lǎo biān}

Laobian district of Yingkou City 營口市, Liaoning

老兵 lou⁵ bing¹ {lǎo bīng}

veteran

老鴇〔-鸨〕 lou⁵ bou² {lǎo bǎo}

female brothel keeper

老本 lou⁵ bun² {lǎo běn}

1. capital
2. assets
3. savings
4. nest egg
5. (fig.) reputation
6. laurels (to rest upon)
7. old edition of a book
8. (tree) trunk

老伴 lou⁵ bun⁶ {lǎo bàn}

(of an elderly couple) husband or wife

老抽 lou⁵ cau¹ {lǎo chōu}

dark soy sauce

老千 lou⁵ cin¹ {lǎo qiān}

1. cheat
2. swindler (in gambling)

老粗 lou⁵ cou¹ {lǎo cū}

1. uneducated person
2. yokel
3. boor
4. roughneck

老大 lou⁵ daai⁶ {lǎo dà}

1. old age
2. very
3. eldest child in a family
4. leader of a group
5. boss
6. captain of a boat
7. leader of a criminal gang

老聃 lou⁵ daam¹ {Lǎo Dān}

another name for Laozi 老子

老弟 lou⁵ dai⁶ {lǎo dì}

1. (affectionate form of address for a male who is not very much younger than oneself) my boy
2. old pal

老爹 lou⁵ de¹ {lǎo diē}

1. (dialect) father
2. old man
3. sir

老鵰〔-雕〕 lou⁵ diu¹ {lǎo diāo}

vulture

老到 lou⁵ dou³ {lǎo dao}

experienced and careful

老花 lou⁵ faa¹ {lǎo huā}

presbyopia

老化 lou⁵ faa³ {lǎo huà}

1. to age (of person or object)
2. becoming old

老虎 lou⁵ fu² {lǎo hǔ}

1. tiger
2. CL: 隻

老父 lou⁵ fu⁶ {lǎo fù}

1. father
2. old man
3. venerable sir

老家 lou⁵ gaa¹ {lǎo jiā}

1. native place
2. place of origin
3. home state or region

老街 lou⁵ gaai¹ {Lǎo jiē}

1. Lao Cai, Vietnam
2. Laokai or Laukkai, Burma (Myanmar)

老繭〔-茧〕 lou⁵ gaan² {lǎo jiǎn}

1. callus (patch or hardened skin)
2. corns (on feet)
3. also 老趼

老趼 lou⁵ gaan² {lǎo jiǎn}

1. callus (patch or hardened skin)
2. corns (on feet)

老舊〔-旧〕 lou⁵ gau⁶ {lǎo jiù}

1. outmoded
2. old-fashioned

老境 lou⁵ ging² {lǎo jìng}

1. advanced years
2. old age

老歌 lou⁵ go¹ {lǎo gē}

oldie (song)

老公 lou⁵ gung¹ {lǎo gōng}

(coll.) husband

老公 lou⁵ gung¹ {lǎo gong}

1. (coll.) eunuch
2. see also 老公

老君 lou⁵ gwan¹ {Lǎo jūn}

1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism
2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 by Laozi

老撾〔-挝〕 lou⁵ gwo¹ {Lǎo wō}

Laos

老客 lou⁵ haak³ {lǎo kè}

1. peddler
2. old or regular customer

老黑 lou⁵ hak¹ {lǎo hēi}

(coll.) black person

老兄 lou⁵ hing¹ {lǎo xiōng}

'old chap' (form of address between male friends)

老鄉〔-乡〕 lou⁵ hoeng¹ {lǎo xiāng}

1. fellow townsman
2. fellow villager
3. sb from the same hometown

老漢〔-汉〕 lou⁵ hon³ {lǎo hàn}

1. old man
2. I (an old man referring to himself)

老人 lou⁵ jan⁴ {lǎo rén}

1. old man or woman
2. the elderly
3. one's aged parents or grandparents

老友 lou⁵ jau⁵ {lǎo yǒu}

1. old friend
2. sb who passed the county level imperial exam (in Ming dynasty)

老爺〔-爷〕 lou⁵ je⁴ {lǎo ye}

1. (respectful) lord
2. master
3. (coll.) maternal grandfather

老二 lou⁵ ji² {lǎo èr}

1. the second child or brother (or sister)
2. (slang) penis

老兒〔-儿〕 lou⁵ ji⁴ {lǎo ér}

1. father
2. husband
3. old man

老鷹〔-鹰〕 lou⁵ jing¹ {lǎo yīng}

1. (coll.) eagle
2. hawk
3. any similar bird of prey

老么〔-幺〕 lou⁵ jiu¹ {lǎo yāo}

youngest

老翁 lou⁵ jung¹ {lǎo wēng}

old man

老嫗〔-妪〕 lou⁵ jyu² {lǎo yù}

old woman (formal writing)

老遠〔-远〕 lou⁵ jyun⁵ {lǎo yuǎn}

very far away

老摳〔-抠〕 lou⁵ kau¹ {lǎo kōu}

1. penny-pincher
2. miser

老驥〔-骥〕 lou⁵ kei³ {lǎo jì}

1. old thoroughbred
2. fig. aged person with great aspirations

老鴰〔-鸹〕 lou⁵ kut³ {lǎo guā}

a crow

老辣 lou⁵ laat⁶ {lǎo là}

1. shrewd and ruthless
2. efficient and unscrupulous

老臉〔-脸〕 lou⁵ lim⁵ {lǎo liǎn}

1. self-respect of old person
2. face
3. thick-skinned (i.e. impervious to criticism)
4. brazen

老練〔-练〕 lou⁵ lin⁶ {lǎo liàn}

1. seasoned
2. experienced

老齡〔-龄〕 lou⁵ ling⁴ {lǎo líng}

1. old age
2. aging
3. aged
4. geriatric
5. the aged

老姥 lou⁵ lou⁵ {lǎo mǔ}

old lady (term of modesty)

老老 lou⁵ lou⁵ {lǎo lao}

1. maternal grandmother
2. same as 姥姥

老路 lou⁵ lou⁶ {lǎo lù}

1. old road
2. familiar way
3. beaten track
4. conventional behavior

老媽〔-妈〕 lou⁵ maa¹ {lǎo mā}

1. mother
2. mom

老邁〔-迈〕 lou⁵ maai⁶ {lǎo mài}

1. aged
2. senile

老墨 lou⁵ mak⁶ {Lǎo Mò}

(coll.) a Mexican

老美 lou⁵ mei⁵ {Lǎo Měi}

1. (coll.) an American
2. person from the United States

老耄 lou⁵ mou⁶ {lǎo mào}

1. dim sight of the aged
2. doddering
3. senile

老外 lou⁵ ngoi⁶ {lǎo wài}

1. (coll.) foreigner (esp. non Asian person)
2. layman
3. amateur

老年 lou⁵ nin⁴ {lǎo nián}

1. elderly
2. old age
3. autumn of one's years

老鳥〔-鸟〕 lou⁵ niu⁵ {lǎo niǎo}

1. old hand
2. veteran

老娘 lou⁵ noeng⁴ {lǎo niáng}

1. my old mother
2. I, this old woman
3. my old lady (colloquial)
4. maternal grandmother
5. midwife

老牌 lou⁵ paai⁴ {lǎo pái}

1. old, well-known brand
2. old style
3. old school
4. an old hand
5. experienced veteran

老婆 lou⁵ po⁴ {lǎo pó}

(coll.) wife

老譜〔-谱〕 lou⁵ pou² {lǎo pǔ}

1. old ways
2. old habit

老生 lou⁵ sang¹ {lǎo shēng}

venerable middle-aged or elderly man, usually wearing an artificial beard (in Chinese opera)

老實〔-实〕 lou⁵ sat⁶ {lǎo shi}

1. honest
2. sincere
3. well-behaved
4. open and guileless
5. naive

老叟 lou⁵ sau² {lǎo sǒu}

old man

老手 lou⁵ sau² {lǎo shǒu}

1. experienced person
2. an old hand at sth

老舍 lou⁵ se³ {Lǎo Shě}

Lao She (1899-1966), Chinese novelist and dramatist

老師〔-师〕 lou⁵ si¹ {lǎo shī}

1. teacher
2. CL: 個,位

老是 lou⁵ si⁶ {lǎo shi}

always

老視〔-视〕 lou⁵ si⁶ {lǎo shì}

presbyopia

老式 lou⁵ sik¹ {lǎo shì}

1. old-fashioned
2. old type
3. outdated

老城 lou⁵ sing⁴ {lǎo chéng}

1. old town
2. old district of a city

老成 lou⁵ sing⁴ {lǎo chéng}

1. mature
2. experienced
3. sophisticated

老少 lou⁵ siu³ {lǎo shào}

the old and the young

老鼠 lou⁵ syu² {lǎo shǔ}

1. rat
2. mouse
3. CL: 隻

老太 lou⁵ taai³ {lǎo tài}

old lady

老態〔-态〕 lou⁵ taai³ {lǎo tài}

elderly, as in movement or bearing

老頭〔-头〕 lou⁵ tau⁴ {lǎo tóu}

1. old fellow
2. old man
3. father
4. husband

老天 lou⁵ tin¹ {lǎo tiān}

1. God
2. Heavens

老饕 lou⁵ tou¹ {lǎo tāo}

glutton

老套 lou⁵ tou³ {lǎo tào}

1. old things
2. old ways (pejorative)

老酒 lou⁵ zau² {lǎo jiǔ}

wine, esp. Shaoxing wine

老者 lou⁵ ze² {lǎo zhě}

1. old man
2. elderly man

老子 lou⁵ zi² {Lǎo zǐ}

1. Laozi or Lao-tze (c. 500 BC), Chinese philosopher, the founder of Taoism
2. the sacred book of Daoism, 道德經 by Laozi

老子 lou⁵ zi² {lǎo zi}

1. father
2. daddy
3. "I, your father" (in anger, or out of contempt)
4. I (used arrogantly or jocularly)

老將〔-将〕 lou⁵ zoeng³ {lǎo jiàng}

1. lit. old general
2. commander-in-chief 將帥, the equivalent of king in Chinese chess
3. fig. old-timer
4. veteran

老賬〔-账〕 lou⁵ zoeng³ {lǎo zhàng}

1. lit. old account
2. old debt
3. fig. old scores to settle
4. old quarrels
5. old grudge

老丈 lou⁵ zoeng⁶ {lǎo zhàng}

1. (formal) Sir
2. CL: 位

老莊〔-庄〕 lou⁵ zong¹ {Lǎo Zhuāng}

Laozi and Zhuangzi (or Lao-tze and Chuang-tze), the founders of Daoism

老早 lou⁵ zou² {lǎo zǎo}

a long time ago

老總〔-总〕 lou⁵ zung² {lǎo zǒng}

1. boss
2. executive

老拙 lou⁵ zyut³ {lǎo zhuō}

1. old fart (usually in self reference)
2. geezer

老百姓 lou⁵ baak³ sing³ {lǎobǎixìng}

(noun) The messes

老闆娘〔-板-〕 lou⁵ baan² noeng⁴ {lǎo bǎn niáng}

a female boss; a female shop owner

老波骨 lou⁵ bo¹ gwat¹ {lǎo bō gǔ}

experienced football player

老本行 lou⁵ bun² hong⁴ {lǎo běn háng}

one's own profession that one is principally been engaged in; one's line of work

老差骨 lou⁵ caai¹ gwat¹ {lǎo chā gǔ}

experienced policemen (slang)

老番冬 lou⁵ faan¹ dung¹ {lǎo fān dōng}

Christmas (spoken)

老火湯〔--汤〕 lou⁵ fo² tong¹ {lǎo huǒ tāng}

slow-cooked soup

老夫子 lou⁵ fu¹ zi² {lǎo fū zǐ}

Old Master Q (a comic book character)

老虎蟹 lou⁵ fu² haai⁵ {lǎo hǔ xiè}

Ranina Ranina / red frog crab / spanner crab; to describe a bully who acts in a tyrannous manner; used as a modal particle in a sentence to convey a resolute sense of doing something, similar to saying 'no matter what', 'regardless of whatever'

老虎乸 lou⁵ fu² naa² {lǎo hǔ ná}

(n.) a tigress; a ferocious woman, sometimes used in a humourous sense to refer to one's wife

老街站 lou⁵ gaai¹ zaam⁶ {lǎo jiē zhàn}

Laojie Station

老交情 lou⁵ gaau¹ cing⁴ {lǎo jiāo qing}

Old friend; go way back

老公餅〔--饼〕 lou⁵ gung¹ beng² {lǎo gong bǐng}

Husband cake, a pastry that is made with fermented bean curd, garlic and black sesame mix paste

老公仔 lou⁵ gung¹ zai² {lǎo gōng zǎi}

hubby (spoken)

老行尊 lou⁵ hang⁴ zyun¹ {lǎo xíng zūn}

an expertise of a specialty (spoken)

老行專〔--专〕 lou⁵ hong⁴ zyun¹ {lǎo háng zhuān}

an expert in a particular field

老人家 lou⁵ jan⁴ gaa¹ {lǎo rén jiā}

(noun) General term to call a senior

老人星 lou⁵ jan⁴ sing¹ {Lǎo rén xīng}

Canopus

老人精 lou⁵ jan⁴ zing¹ {lǎo rén jīng}

describes a child who acts like an adult; a young but worldly person

老爺車〔-爷车〕 lou⁵ je⁴ ce¹ {lǎo ye chē}

old car

老而不 lou⁵ ji⁴ bat¹ {lǎo ér bù}

a licentious old man

老虔婆 lou⁵ kin⁴ po⁴ {lǎo qián pó}

old biddy

老規矩〔-规-〕 lou⁵ kwai¹ geoi² {lǎo guī ju}

old rules; customs (spoken)

老來嬌〔-来娇〕 lou⁵ loi⁴ giu¹ {lǎo lái jiāo}

an elderly (female) who dresses up to cover up actual age (spoken)

老懵懂 lou⁵ mung² dung² {lǎo měng dǒng}

describes an old person who has a bad memory; a dotard

老泥妹 lou⁵ nai⁴ mui¹ {lǎo ní mèi}

(literally: grubby girl); teenage girl who stays away from home and hangs out on the streets, usually promiscuous and vulgar in their mannerism

老牛聲〔--声〕 lou⁵ ngau⁴ seng¹ {lǎo niú shēng}

a loud and harsh voice

老齧齧 lou⁵ nget⁶ nget⁶ {lǎo niè niè}

Old, feeble and lonely; vegetables that are too old and tough to bite

老婆餅〔--饼〕 lou⁵ po⁴ beng² {lǎo po bǐng}

Wife cake, a pastry made with a filling of winter melon, almond paste and sesame

老婆仔 lou⁵ po⁴ zai² {lǎo po zǐ}

young wife; 'wifey'; way to address a steady girlfriend

老臣子 lou⁵ san⁴ zi² {lǎo chén zi}

long server staff (spoken)

老水鴨〔--鸭〕 lou⁵ seoi² aap² {lǎo shuǐ yā}

Duck in soya sauce

老鼠斑 lou⁵ syu² baan¹ {lǎo shǔ bān}

Panther Grouper; humpback grouper; high fin grouper

老鼠貨〔--货〕 lou⁵ syu² fo³ {lǎo shǔ huò}

(slang) stolen goods

老鼠仔 lou⁵ syu² zai² {lǎo shǔ zǐ}

muscular biceps; literally 'small rat'(same shape)

老伯伯 lou⁵ baak³ baak³ {lǎo bó bo}

grandpa (polite form of address for old man)

老百姓 lou⁵ baak³ sing³ {lǎo bǎi xìng}

1. ordinary people
2. the "person in the street"
3. CL: 個

老板娘 lou⁵ baan² noeng⁴ {lǎo bǎn niáng}

1. female proprietor
2. lady boss
3. boss's wife

老不死 lou⁵ bat¹ sei² {lǎo bù sǐ}

1. (derog.) old but still alive
2. old fart
3. old bastard

老鼻子 lou⁵ bei⁶ zi² {lǎo bí zi}

many

老邊區〔-边区〕 lou⁵ bin¹ keoi¹ {Lǎo biān qū}

Laobian district of Yingkou City 營口市, Liaoning

老半天 lou⁵ bun³ tin¹ {lǎo bàn tiān}

(coll.) a long time

老處女〔-处-〕 lou⁵ cyu² neoi⁵ {lǎo chǔ nǚ}

1. unmarried old woman
2. spinster

老大哥 lou⁵ daai⁶ go¹ {lǎo dà gē}

big brother

老大爺〔--爷〕 lou⁵ daai⁶ je⁴ {lǎo dà yé}

1. uncle
2. grandpa
3. CL: 位

老大媽〔--妈〕 lou⁵ daai⁶ maa¹ {lǎo dà mā}

1. "Madam" (affectionate term for an elderly woman)
2. CL: 位

老大娘 lou⁵ daai⁶ noeng⁴ {lǎo dà niáng}

1. old lady
2. Madam (polite address)
3. CL: 位

老掉牙 lou⁵ diu⁶ ngaa⁴ {lǎo diào yá}

1. very old
2. obsolete
3. out of date

老東西〔-东-〕 lou⁵ dung¹ sai¹ {lǎo dōng xi}

1. (derog.) old fool
2. old bastard

老花鏡〔--镜〕 lou⁵ faa¹ geng³ {lǎo huā jìng}

presbyopic glasses

老花眼 lou⁵ faa¹ ngaan⁵ {lǎo huā yǎn}

presbyopia

老化酶 lou⁵ faa³ mui⁴ {lǎo huà méi}

aged enzyme

老佛爺〔--爷〕 lou⁵ fat⁶ je⁴ {Lǎo fó yé}

1. title of respect for the queen mother or the emperor's father
2. nickname for Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后

老虎菜 lou⁵ fu² coi³ {lǎo hǔ cài}

"Tiger Vegetable Salad," Northeast China dish usually consisting of hot pepper, cucumber, cilantro and leek

老虎機〔--机〕 lou⁵ fu² gei¹ {lǎo hǔ jī}

slot machine

老虎鉗〔--钳〕 lou⁵ fu² kim² {lǎo hǔ qián}

1. vise
2. pincer pliers

老虎灶 lou⁵ fu² zou³ {lǎo hǔ zào}

old-style large kitchen stove

老婦人〔-妇-〕 lou⁵ fu⁵ jan⁴ {lǎo fù rén}

old lady (term of modesty)

老家賊〔--贼〕 lou⁵ gaa¹ caak⁶ {lǎo jiā zéi}

(dialect) sparrow

老古板 lou⁵ gu² baan² {lǎo gǔ bǎn}

1. overly conservative
2. old-fashioned
3. old fogey
4. a square

老公公 lou⁵ gung¹ gung¹ {lǎo gōng gong}

1. old man
2. husband's father
3. father-in-law
4. court eunuch

老骨頭〔--头〕 lou⁵ gwat¹ tau⁴ {lǎo gǔ tou}

weary old body (colloquial term, used jocularly or irreverently)

老河口 lou⁵ ho⁴ hau² {Lǎo hé kǒu}

Laohekou county level city in Xiangfan 襄樊, Hubei

老好人 lou⁵ hou² jan⁴ {lǎo hǎo rén}

one who tries never to offend anybody

老人家 lou⁵ jan⁴ gaa¹ {lǎo rén jiā}

polite term for old woman or man

老人院 lou⁵ jan⁴ jyun² {lǎo rén yuàn}

1. nursing home
2. old people's home

老一輩〔--辈〕 lou⁵ jat¹ bui³ {lǎo yī bèi}

1. previous generation
2. older generation

老一套 lou⁵ jat¹ tou³ {lǎo yī tào}

the same old stuff

老油條〔--条〕 lou⁵ jau⁴ tiu² {lǎo yóu tiáo}

1. old fox
2. slick customer

老油子 lou⁵ jau⁴ zi² {lǎo yóu zi}

1. (coll.) wily old fox
2. crafty fellow

老爺車〔-爷车〕 lou⁵ je⁴ ce¹ {lǎo ye chē}

classic car

老爺爺〔-爷爷〕 lou⁵ je⁴ je² {lǎo yé ye}

1. (coll.) father's father's father
2. paternal great-grandfather

老爺嶺〔-爷岭〕 lou⁵ je⁴ leng⁵ {Lǎo ye lǐng}

Chinese name for Sichote-Alin mountain range in Russia's Primorsky Krai around Vladivostok

老爺子〔-爷-〕 lou⁵ je⁴ zi² {lǎo yé zi}

1. my (you etc) old father
2. polite appellation for an elderly male

老煙槍〔-烟枪〕 lou⁵ jin¹ coeng¹ {lǎo yān qiāng}

1. heavy smoker
2. chain smoker
3. life-long smoker

老煙鬼〔-烟-〕 lou⁵ jin¹ gwai² {lǎo yān guǐ}

1. heavy smoker
2. chain smoker

老樣子〔-样-〕 lou⁵ joeng⁶ zi² {lǎo yàng zi}

1. old situation
2. things as they were

老玉米 lou⁵ juk⁶ mai⁵ {lǎo yù mi}

(dialect) corn

老框框 lou⁵ kwaang¹ kwaang¹ {lǎo kuàng kuàng}

1. rigid conventions
2. reactionary framework

老齡化〔-龄-〕 lou⁵ ling⁴ faa³ {lǎo líng huà}

aging (population)

老來俏〔-来-〕 lou⁵ loi⁴ ciu³ {lǎo lái qiào}

1. old person who dresses up as teenager
2. mutton dressed as lamb

老來少〔-来-〕 lou⁵ loi⁴ siu³ {lǎo lái shào}

old but young at heart

老媽子〔-妈-〕 lou⁵ maa¹ zi² {lǎo mā zi}

1. older female servant
2. amah

老帽兒〔--儿〕 lou⁵ mou² ji⁴ {lǎo mào r}

1. (dialect) country bumpkin
2. a hick

老毛病 lou⁵ mou⁴ beng⁶ {lǎo máo bìng}

1. chronic illness
2. old weakness
3. chronic problem

老毛子 lou⁵ mou⁴ zi² {lǎo máo zi}

Westerner (esp. a Russian) (derog.)

老奶奶 lou⁵ naai⁴ naai² {lǎo nǎi nai}

1. (coll.) father's father's mother
2. paternal great-grandmother
3. respectful form of address for an old woman

老年人 lou⁵ nin⁴ jan⁴ {lǎo nián rén}

1. old people
2. the elderly

老年期 lou⁵ nin⁴ kei⁴ {lǎo nián qī}

old age

老朋友 lou⁵ pang⁴ jau⁵ {lǎo péng you}

1. old friend
2. (slang) period
3. menstruation

老三篇 lou⁵ saam¹ pin¹ {lǎo sān piān}

Lao San Pian, three short essays written by Mao Zedong before the PRC was established

老三色 lou⁵ saam¹ sik¹ {lǎo sān sè}

the three plain colors used for clothing in the PRC in the 1960s: black, gray and blue

老實說〔-实说〕 lou⁵ sat⁶ syut³ {lǎo shí shuō}

1. honestly speaking
2. to be frank, ...

老視眼〔-视-〕 lou⁵ si⁶ ngaan⁵ {lǎo shì yǎn}

presbyopia

老城區〔--区〕 lou⁵ sing⁴ keoi¹ {Lǎo chéng qū}

Laocheng district of Luoyang City 洛陽市, Henan

老城區〔--区〕 lou⁵ sing⁴ keoi¹ {lǎo chéng qū}

1. old city district
2. historical center

老鼠洞 lou⁵ syu² dung⁶ {lǎo shǔ dòng}

mouse hole

老太公 lou⁵ taai³ gung¹ {lǎo tài gōng}

aged gentleman (dialect, respectful term)

老太爺〔--爷〕 lou⁵ taai³ je⁴ {lǎo tài yé}

1. elderly gentleman (respectful)
2. esteemed father

老太婆 lou⁵ taai³ po² {lǎo tài pó}

old woman (at times contemptuous)

老太太 lou⁵ taai³ taai³ {lǎo tài tai}

1. elderly lady (respectful)
2. esteemed mother
3. CL: 位

老頭樂〔-头乐〕 lou⁵ tau⁴ lok⁶ {lǎo tóu lè}

1. backscratcher (made from bamboo etc)
2. (may also refer to other products that are of benefit to old people, such as padded cloth shoes, mobility tricycle etc)

老頭子〔-头-〕 lou⁵ tau⁴ zi² {lǎo tóu zi}

1. (coll.) old man
2. (said of an aging husband) my old man

老天爺〔--爷〕 lou⁵ tin¹ je⁴ {lǎo tiān yé}

1. God
2. Heavens

老套子 lou⁵ tou³ zi² {lǎo tào zi}

1. old methods
2. old habits

老皇曆〔--历〕 lou⁵ wong⁴ lik⁶ {lǎo huáng lì}

1. lit. last year's calendar (almanac)
2. fig. ancient history
3. obsolete practice
4. old-fashioned principle

老狐狸 lou⁵ wu⁴ lei² {lǎo hú li}

1. old fox
2. fig. cunning person

老糊塗〔--涂〕 lou⁵ wu⁴ tou⁴ {lǎo hú tu}

dotard

老資格〔-资-〕 lou⁵ zi¹ gaak³ {lǎo zī gé}

veteran

老字號〔--号〕 lou⁵ zi⁶ hou⁶ {lǎo zì hào}

shop, firm, or brand of merchandise with a long-established reputation

老著臉〔-着脸〕 lou⁵ zoek⁶ lim⁵ {lǎo zhe liǎn}

shamelessly

老豆老母 lou⁵ dau⁶ lou⁵ mou² {lǎo dòu lǎo mǔ}

parent

老番涼茶〔--凉-〕 lou⁵ faan¹ loeng⁴ caa⁴ {lǎo fān liáng chá}

beer (slang)

老火靚湯〔--靓汤〕 lou⁵ fo² leng³ tong¹ {lǎo huǒ jìng tāng}

A nice slow simmered soup

老公撥扇〔--拨-〕 lou⁵ gung¹ put³ sin³ {lǎo gong bō shàn}

(literally: husband fans); miserable; desolate; pitiful

老友鬼鬼 lou⁵ jau² gwai² gwai² {lǎo yǒu guǐ guǐ}

Old Buddies

老老實實〔--实实〕 lou⁵ lou⁵ sat⁶ sat⁶ {lǎo lao shí shí}

be honest

老貓燒鬚〔-猫烧须〕 lou⁵ maau¹ siu¹ sou¹ {lǎo māo shāo xū}

(slang) even a skillful / experienced person or an expert would make mistakes sometimes; even Homer nods

老生常談〔---谈〕 lou⁵ sang¹ soeng⁴ taam⁴ {lǎo shēng cháng tán}

platitude

老少平安 lou⁵ siu³ ping⁴ on¹ {lǎo shào píng ān}

the old and the young are all safe and sound, the name for a dish of steamed tofu with fish paste

老鼠拉龜〔---龟〕 lou⁵ syu² laai¹ gwai¹ {lǎo shǔ lā guī}

impossible (slang)

老殘遊記〔-残游记〕 lou⁵ caan⁴ jau⁴ gei³ {Lǎo Cán Yóu jì}

The Travels of Lao Tsan, novel by late Qing novelist Liu E 劉鶚

老調重彈〔-调-弹〕 lou⁵ diu⁶ cung⁴ taan⁴ {lǎo diào chóng tán}

to play the same old tune (idiom); unoriginal

老當益壯〔-当-壮〕 lou⁵ dong¹ jik¹ zong³ {lǎo dāng yì zhuàng}

old but vigorous (idiom); hale and hearty despite the years

老虎伍茲〔---兹〕 lou⁵ fu² ng⁵ zi¹ {Lǎo hǔ Wǔ zī}

Eldrick "Tiger" Woods (1975-), American golfer

老奸巨猾 lou⁵ gaan¹ geoi⁶ waat⁶ {lǎo jiān jù huá}

1. cunning
2. crafty
3. wily old fox

老氣橫秋〔-气横-〕 lou⁵ hei³ waang⁴ cau¹ {lǎo qì héng qiū}

1. old and decrepit
2. proud of one's age and experience (idiom)

老河口市 lou⁵ ho⁴ hau² si⁵ {Lǎo hé kǒu shì}

Laohekou county level city in Xiangfan 襄樊, Hubei

老鷹星雲〔-鹰-云〕 lou⁵ jing¹ sing¹ wan⁴ {Lǎo yīng xīng yún}

Eagle or Star Queen Nebula M16

老於世故〔-于--〕 lou⁵ jyu¹ sai³ gu³ {lǎo yú shì gù}

1. experienced in the ways of the world (idiom); worldly-wise
2. sophisticated

老驥伏櫪〔-骥-枥〕 lou⁵ kei³ fuk⁶ lik¹ {lǎo jì fú lì}

lit. an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles (idiom); fig. aged person with great aspirations

老驥嘶風〔-骥-风〕 lou⁵ kei³ sai¹ fung¹ {lǎo jì sī fēng}

old steed sniffs the wind (idiom); fig. aged person with great aspirations

老兩口兒〔-两-儿〕 lou⁵ loeng⁵ hau² ji⁴ {lǎo liǎng kǒu r}

an old married couple

老馬戀棧〔-马恋栈〕 lou⁵ maa⁵ lyun² zaan⁶ {lǎo mǎ liàn zhàn}

1. lit. the old horse loves his stable
2. fig. sb old but reluctant to relinquish their post (idiom)

老馬嘶風〔-马-风〕 lou⁵ maa⁵ sai¹ fung¹ {lǎo mǎ sī fēng}

old horse sniffs the wind (idiom); fig. aged person with great aspirations

老馬識途〔-马识-〕 lou⁵ maa⁵ sik¹ tou⁴ {lǎo mǎ shí tú}

1. an old horse knows the way (idiom); an experienced worker knows what to do
2. an old hand knows the ropes

老謀深算〔-谋--〕 lou⁵ mau⁴ sam¹ syun³ {lǎo móu shēn suàn}

rigorous schemes and deep foresight (idiom); astute and circumspect

老眼昏花 lou⁵ ngaan⁵ fan¹ faa¹ {lǎo yǎn hūn huā}

blurred vision of an old person (idiom)

老牛破車〔---车〕 lou⁵ ngau⁴ po³ ce¹ {lǎo niú pò chē}

1. lit. old ox pulling a shabby cart (idiom)
2. fig. slow and inefficient

老牛舐犢〔---犊〕 lou⁵ ngau⁴ saai⁵ duk⁶ {lǎo niú shì dú}

1. lit. an old ox licking its calf (idiom)
2. fig. (of parents) to dote on one's children

老年痴獃〔---呆〕 lou⁵ nin⁴ ci¹ ngoi⁴ {lǎo nián chī dāi}

1. senile dementia
2. Alzheimer's disease

老蚌生珠 lou⁵ pong⁵ saang¹ zyu¹ {lǎo bàng shēng zhū}

1. lit. an old oyster producing a pearl (idiom)
2. fig. birthing a son at an advanced age

老神在在 lou⁵ san⁴ zoi⁶ zoi⁶ {lǎo shén zài zài}

calm and easy-going (Taiwanese)

老實巴交〔-实--〕 lou⁵ sat⁶ baa¹ gaau¹ {lǎo shi bā jiāo}

1. (coll.) docile
2. well-behaved
3. biddable

老成持重 lou⁵ sing⁴ ci⁴ zung⁶ {lǎo chéng chí zhòng}

1. old and wise
2. experienced and knowledgeable

老少皆宜 lou⁵ siu³ gaai¹ ji⁴ {lǎo shào jiē yí}

suitable for both the young and the old

老少咸宜 lou⁵ siu³ haam⁴ ji⁴ {lǎo shào xián yí}

suitable for young and old

老少無欺〔--无-〕 lou⁵ siu³ mou⁴ hei¹ {lǎo shào wú qī}

1. cheating neither old nor young
2. treating youngsters and old folk equally scrupulously
3. Our house offers sincere treatment to all and fair trade to old and young alike.

老鼠尾巴 lou⁵ syu² mei⁵ baa¹ {lǎo shǔ wěi ba}

lit. rat's tail; fig. a follower of inferior stature

老態龍鍾〔-态龙钟〕 lou⁵ taai³ lung⁴ zung¹ {lǎo tài lóng zhōng}

1. doddering
2. senile

老人成嫩仔 lou⁵ jan⁴ sing⁴ nyun⁶ zai² {lǎo rén chéng nèn zǐ}

rejuvenation

老大徒傷悲〔---伤-〕 lou⁵ daai⁶ tou⁴ soeng¹ bei¹ {lǎo dà tú shāng bēi}

vain regrets of old age (idiom)

老牛吃嫩草 lou⁵ ngau⁴ hek³ nyun⁶ cou² {lǎo niú chī nèn cǎo}

1. lit. an old cow eats young grass (idiom)
2. fig. a May-December relationship
3. a romance where the man is significantly older than the woman

老年痴獃症〔---呆-〕 lou⁵ nin⁴ ci¹ ngoi⁴ zing³ {lǎo nián chī dāi zhèng}

1. senile dementia
2. Alzheimer's disease

老番睇榜第一 lou⁵ faan¹ tai² bong² dai⁶ jat¹ {lǎo fān dì bǎng dì yī}

come last (slang)

老年性痴獃症〔----呆-〕 lou⁵ nin⁴ sing³ ci¹ ngoi⁴ zing³ {lǎo nián xìng chī dāi zhèng}

senile dementia

老山自行車館〔----车馆〕 lou⁵ saan¹ zi⁶ hang⁴ ce¹ gun² {Lǎo shān Zì xíng chē guǎn}

Laoshan Velodrome, a Beijing 2008 Olympics venue

老虎頭上釘蝨乸〔--头-钉虱-〕 lou⁵ fu² tau⁴ soeng⁶ deng¹ sat¹ naa² {lǎo hǔ tóu shang dīng shī ná}

(literally: put lice on the tiger's head); to provoke a powerful person or organization

老婆孩子熱炕頭〔----热-头〕 lou⁵ po⁴ haai⁴ zi² jit⁶ hong³ tau⁴ {lǎo pó hái zi rè kàng tou}

1. wife kids and a warm bed (idiom); the simple and good life
2. longa est vita si plena est
3. la dolce vita

老虎唔發威當病貓〔---发-当-猫〕 lou⁵ fu² m⁴ faat³ wai¹ dong³ beng⁶ maau¹ {lǎo hǔ wú fā wēi dāng bìng māo}

a tiger taken as an ill cat just because it doesn't roar, a metaphor to say don't underestimate one's power

老撾人民民主共和國〔-挝------国〕 lou⁵ wo¹ jan⁴ man⁴ man⁴ zyu² gung⁶ wo⁴ gwok³ {Lǎo wō Rén mín Mín zhǔ Gòng hé guó}

Lao People's Democratic Republic

老驥伏櫪，志在千里〔-骥-枥-----〕 lou⁵ kei³ fuk⁶ lik¹ ，zi³ zoi⁶ cin¹ lei⁵ {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

老吾老，以及人之老 lou⁵ ng⁴ lou⁵ ，ji⁵ kap⁶ jan⁴ zi¹ lou⁵ {lǎo wú lǎo , yǐ jí rén zhī lǎo}

to honor old people as we do our own aged parents

老鼠過街，人人喊打〔--过------〕 lou⁵ syu² gwo³ gaai¹ ，jan⁴ jan⁴ haam³ daa² {lǎo shǔ guò jiē , rén rén hǎn dǎ}

1. lit. when a rat crosses the street, people chase it down (idiom)
2. fig. everyone detests a lowlife

老鼠拉龜，無從下手〔---龟-无从--〕 lou⁵ syu² laai¹ gwai¹ , mou⁴ cung⁴ haa⁶ sau² {lǎo shǔ lā guī , wú cóng xià shǒu}

1. like mice trying to pull a turtle, nowhere to get a hand grip (idiom)
2. no clue where to start

老王賣瓜，自賣自誇〔--卖---卖-夸〕 lou⁵ wong² maai⁶ gwaa¹ ，zi⁶ maai⁶ zi⁶ kwaa¹ {Lǎo Wáng mài guā , zì mài zì kuā}

1. every potter praises his own pot (idiom)
2. all one's geese are swans

老鼠拖木鍁，大頭在後頭〔----锨--头-后头〕 lou⁵ syu² to¹ muk⁶ hin¹ , daai⁶ tau⁴ zoi⁶ hau⁶ tau⁴ {lǎo shǔ tuō mù xiān , dà tóu zài hòu tou}

1. when the mice drag a shovel, the biggest thing comes second
2. the tip of the iceberg
3. the cockroach principle

老吾老，以及人之老，幼吾幼，以及人之幼 lou⁵ ng⁴ lou⁵ ，ji⁵ kap⁶ jan⁴ zi¹ lou⁵ ，jau³ ng⁴ jau³ ，ji⁵ kap⁶ jan⁴ zi¹ jau³ {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