lão
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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.)