láodòng le. My father is old and can’t work on the farm any more. 2 long-standing ■ 这个老问题一
直没有办法解决。Zhè ge lǎo wèntí yìzhí méiyǒu bànfǎ jiějué. This perennial problem has
remained unsolved for a long time. 老朋友 lǎo péngyou long-standing friend ■ 我们 在小学的时候就
认识了，是老朋友。Wǒmen zài xiǎoxué de shíhou jiù rènshi le, shì lǎo péngyou. We’ve known
each other since primary school. We’re old friends. 3 PREFIX (added to numerals to indicate seniority
among siblings) 老大 lǎo dà the eldest child / 老二 lǎo èr the second childNOTE: Chinese tradition values and respects old age. Today, people still attach 老 lǎo to a family name as
a form of address to show respect and friendliness to an older person, e.g. 老李 Lǎo Lǐ, 老王 Lǎo Wáng. See
note on 小 xiǎo.lǎobǎixìng 老百姓 [modif: 老 old + 百 hundred + 姓 family names] N common people, ordinary folk ■ 老
百姓对当官的有意见，怎么办 呢？Lǎobǎixìng duì dāngguānde yǒu yìjiàn, zěnme bàn ne?
What should common people do when they have a complaint against an official?
lǎobǎn 老板 N 1 boss, one in charge ■ 他是我的 老板，他要我做什么我就做什么。Tā shì wǒ de
lǎobǎn, tā yào wǒ zuò shénme wǒ jiù zuò shénme. He is my boss; I do what he tells me to do. 2
owner of a store, a business, etc. ■ 老板不在，没人可 以作主。 Lǎobǎn bú zài, méi rén kěyǐ
zuòzhǔ. As the owner is away, nobody can make a decision.
lǎodàniáng 老大娘 N (a respectful form of address or reference to an old woman) (位 wèi) ■ 他把座位
让给一位老大娘。Tā bǎ zuòwèi rànggěi yí wèi lǎodàniáng. He offered his seat to an old woman.
■ 老大娘，您找谁？Lǎodàniáng, nín zhǎo shuí? Who are you looking for, ma’am?
NOTE: 老大娘 lǎodàniáng has a rustic flavor. It is normally not used in cities or among better-educated
people. 老太太 lǎotàitai is a more appropriate word.lǎodàye 老大爷 N (a respectful form of addresses or reference to an old man) (位 wèi) ■ 老大爷， 请
您让我看看您的票子。Lǎodàye, qǐng nín ràng wǒ kànkan nín de piàozi. Please show me your
ticket, sir.
NOTE: 老大爷 lǎodàye has a rustic flavor. It is normally not used in cities or among better-educated people.
老先生 lǎoxiānsheng is a more appropriate word.
lǎohǔ 老虎 [prefix: 老 nominal prefix + 虎 tiger] N tiger (头 tóu, 只 zhī) ■ 动物园里的老虎逃跑 了！
Dòngwùyuán li de lǎohǔ táopǎo le! A tiger has escaped from the zoo!
lǎolao 姥姥 N (maternal) granny
lǎopó 老婆 N (vulgarism) wife, old girl
lǎorén 老人 [modif: 老 old + 人 person] N old person, elderly person (位 wèi) ■ 这位老人人老心 不
老，还在学中文和武术。Zhè wèi lǎorén rén lǎo xīn bù lǎo, háizài xué Zhōngwén hé wǔshù. This
old person is young at heart. He (or She) is still learning Chinese and martial arts.
lǎoshī 老师 [modif: 老 aged + 师 teacher, master] N teacher (位 wèi) ■ 我的中文老师是北京人。Wǒ
de Zhōngwén lǎoshī shì Běijīngrén. My Chinese teacher is from Beijing. ■ 我要问老师几个问
题。Wǒ yào wèn lǎoshī jǐ ge wèntí. I want to ask the teacher some questions.
NOTE: 老师 lǎoshī, usually prefixed by a family name, is the standard form of address to a teacher, e.g. 王老
师 Wáng Lǎoshī. There is no equivalent of 王老师 Wáng Lǎoshī in English. This dictionary uses the literal
translation Teacher Wang.lǎoshi 老是 ADV always, constantly ■ 你怎么老是 这么晚回家？Nǐ zěnme lǎoshi zhème wǎn huíjiā?
Why do you always come home so late? ■ 他老是 写错这个字。Tā lǎoshi xiēcuò zhège zì. He
always writes this character wrongly.
lǎoshi 老实 ADJ 1 honest to goodness, faithful ■ 说老实话，做老实人。Shuō lǎoshi huà, zuò lǎoshi rén.
Speak the truth and be an honest person. 2 simple-minded, naive ■ 他太老实，容易受 人欺骗。