字 字源HanziOrigin
中文EnglishFrançaisEspañolالعربيةРусский
老
lǎo
old (person)
At a glance · 老

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

老 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 老 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 老 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 老 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 老 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 老 Regular script
    Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文象长发伛偻老人之形（从人从毛从匕），本义为年老。小篆作「老」。

What the sketch shows

老 Object sketch

Origins & notes

本义为年高、年老。

Structure

会意字，甲骨文象老人长发伛背之形。

At a glance

Pinyinlǎo
Radical耂
Strokes6
UnicodeU+8001
Character type会意
Theme人体

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English old (person) Old in age; an elderly person.
Français vieux Âgé ; une personne âgée.
Español viejo De edad avanzada; persona anciana.
العربية عجوز كبير السن؛ شخص مسن.
Русский старый Пожилой; старик.

Common words

  • 老人lǎo rénold person
  • 老lǎoold

Related characters

者