How to Write 老 (lǎo)
Detailed Mastery Guide for 老
The character 老 (Traditional: 老) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Old / Respected". In our Level 3 curriculum, we focus on the 6-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.
Writing & Recognition
Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Family & People, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.
Key Vocabulary
Radical Breakdown
Breaking it down: The character 老 is built on the radical Old (No. 125). Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.
Etymology & Origins
A pictograph of an old man with long hair leaning on a cane, representing age and seniority.
Example Sentence
Simplified: 尊老爱幼是传统美德。
zūnlǎo àiyòu shì chuántǒng měidé.
Traditional: 尊老愛幼是傳統美德。
zyun1 lou5 oi3 jau3 si6 cyun4 tung2 mei5 dak1.
"Respecting the old and loving the young is a traditional virtue."
Dialect Pronunciation
In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as lǎo. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is lou5. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.
Practice & Retention
To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.
Quick Self-Check
What is the meaning of '老'?
Other Characters in Level 3 Unit 5
Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!
We built this site to ensure everyone has access to free stroke order visualizers without annoying paywalls or trial limits. If you find it helpful, supporting us on Ko-fi helps keep the site running!
☕ Support Us on Ko-fi