Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Old: Describes a person, especially a man, who is advanced in age. It often carries a nuance of familiarity, respect, or sometimes slight disrespect depending on context.
   • Elderly: Pertaining to the characteristics of old age.

2. Noun:

   • Old man: A direct, informal term for an elderly male. It can be neutral, affectionate, or derogatory.
   • Geezer / Old codger: A more colloquial and potentially disrespectful term for an old man.
   • I; me (first-person pronoun): Used specifically by an elderly person to refer to themselves when speaking, often to younger people, conveying a sense of aged experience.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Ông lão đó rất hiền. (That old man is very kind.)
  • Tính tình lão ấy khó chịu. (That old fellow has an unpleasant temperament.)

• Noun:

  • Một lão già ngồi ở công viên. (An old man sat in the park.)
  • Lão tuy già nhưng vẫn minh mẫn. (Although I am old, I am still clear-minded.) [Here, "lão" means "I" used by the old person.]

Advanced Usage

• As a prefix or familiar term in nicknames or informal titles, often implying a longstanding characteristic.
  • Lão Hải (Old Hai / Hai the elder) - A familiar way to refer to an older man named Hai.
  • Lão thợ mộc (The old carpenter) - Refers to a specific, known elderly carpenter.

Variants and Related Words

• Ông lão (n): A more standard and common term for "old gentleman" or "elderly man," usually more respectful than "lão" alone.

  • Ông lão ấy kể chuyện rất hay. (That old gentleman tells stories very well.)

• Bà lão (n): An elderly woman.

  • Bà lão bán hàng rong. (The old woman is a street vendor.)

• Lão làng (adj): Experienced, veteran (literally "old of the village").

  • Anh ấy là tay chơi lão làng. (He is a veteran player.)

Synonyms

• Già: Old (general adjective for age).
• Ông già: Old man (common, can range from neutral to affectionate).
• Cụ: A respectful term for a very old person.

Related Idioms

• Lão hóa: To age, to become old (process of aging).

  • Công nghệ chống lão hóa. (Anti-aging technology.)

• Lão luyện: Seasoned, highly experienced and skilled (often from long practice).

  • Người thợ lão luyện. (A seasoned craftsman.)

• Già mà chưa lão: Old in age but not old in spirit/mind.

  • Bà cụ vui tính, già mà chưa lão. (The old lady is cheerful; she's old but not elderly in spirit.)

adj

1. old
   • lão già
     Old man