老[lǎo]

形

1. old (not young)

♦ ~妇人 an old woman

♦ ~马 an old horse

♦ ~树 an old tree

♦ 他父亲很~了。 His father is very old.

2. experienced; veteran

♦ ~作家 a veteran writer

3. old (not new)

♦ ~朋友 an old friend

♦ ~部下 a former subordinate

♦ ~厂 an old factory

♦ ~机器 an old machine

♦ ~地方 the same old place

♦ ~习惯 an old habit

4. (of food) tough; overdone; well-done

♦ 牛肉太~。 The beef is too tough.

♦ 我喜欢吃~一点的牛排。 I like steak quite well-done.

名old people; a venerable old man

♦ 敬~ show respect for the aged

动(of vegetables) overgrown

♦ 菠菜不收就~了。 The spinach will be overgrown if we don't get it in now.

副

1. for a long time

♦ ~没见你啊。 I haven't seen you for ages.

♦ 这屋子~不住人, 有股霉味儿。 This room has been left vacant for a long time, so there is a mouldy smell.

2. always; all the time

♦ 他~跟我借钱。 He's always borrowing money from me.

♦ 他~那么干。 He does it all the time.

3. very

♦ ~早 very early

♦ ~远 far away

♦ ~长的胡子 a very long beard

♦ 太阳已经~高了。 The sun is already high.

4. (used as a prefix) (in terms of address before the surnames of acquaintances or friends to indicate intimacy or informality)

♦ ~王 Lao Wang

5. in certain names of animals and plants

♦ 老虎

♦ 老玉米