How to Write 老 (lǎo) — Meaning “old; elderly”

Imagine the top part 耂 as an old person's hat and a long beard, and the bottom part 匕 as a walking cane. This picture of an old person with a hat, beard, and cane helps you remember that 老 means 'old'.

Write the top part first with three horizontal strokes, then a left-falling stroke from the middle, and finally a vertical hook that curves to the left. A common mistake is making the last stroke too straight—remember it must hook left like a cane.

耂 is only a radical component and never used alone as a word, while 老 is a complete character you can write and read. Visually, 老 has an extra bottom part (匕) that 耂 does not, and only 老 has its own meaning of 'old' or 'elderly'.

老 appears in common words like 老师 (teacher) and 老人 (elderly person), and it can also mean 'always' as in 老是. Culturally, calling someone 老 + surname (e.g., 老李) shows friendliness and respect for their experience, not necessarily their age.

Common words containing 老 include: 老师 (lǎo shī) — Teacher.; 老人 (lǎo rén) — elderly person; the aged; 老家 (lǎo jiā) — Hometown..