老
old man · old age · grow old
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
耂 + 匕
Cultural Context
Etymology
A pictograph of an elderly person with long hair and a cane. Means aged person and longevity.
Symbolism
Symbolizes old age, wisdom, and experience. Represents knowledge of those who have lived long and beings deserving respect.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Good old days
Anime & Manga
じいさんばあさん若返る
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again(2018)
Comedy where an 'elderly' couple turns young.
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
不老不死
ふろうふし
perpetual youth and longevity; immortality; perpetual youth and longevity
老若男女
ろうにゃくなんにょ
men and women of all ages; men and women of all ages
偕老同穴
かいろうどうけつ
happy life partnership; living faithfully together till death; Venus's flower basket (Euplectella aspergillum); happy life partnership
老少不定
ろうしょうふてい
death comes to old and young alike; uncertainty of life; death comes to old and young alike
生老病死
しょうろうびょうし
the four inevitables in human life (birth, aging, sickness, and death); the four inevitables in human life (birth, aging, sickness, and death)
不老長寿
ふろうちょうじゅ
perpetual youth and longevity; perpetual youth and longevity
老婆心切
ろうばしんせつ
grandmotherly solicitude for another's welfare; excessive solicitude; grandmotherly solicitude for another's welfare
月下老人
げっかろうじん
go-between; matchmaker; go-between
老成円熟
ろうせいえんじゅく
experience that comes with age; experience that comes with age
不老長生
ふろうちょうせい
perpetual youth and longevity; long life without growing old; perpetual youth and longevity
老馬の智
ろうばのち
The wisdom of an old horse; Experience brings valuable wisdom
Proverbs & Idioms
老いては子に従え
おいてはこにしたがえ
In old age, follow your children
Elders should defer to their children
老いては腕まくり
おいてはうでまくり
Rolling up sleeves in old age
Working hard despite being old