老
老·old age
- On-yomi
- ロウ
- Kun-yomi
- おいるふける
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 老人 | ろうじん | elderly person |
| 老いる | おいる | to grow old |
| 老後 | ろうご | one's later years |
| 老化 | ろうか | ageing |
Example sentences
この町には老人が多い。
このまちにはろうじんがおおい。
There are many elderly people in this town.
老後のためにお金をためています。
ろうごのためにおかねをためています。
I'm saving money for my later years.
祖父は老いても元気に働いている。
そふはおいてもげんきにはたらいている。
My grandfather keeps working energetically even as he ages.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Calling someone 老人 to their face is impolite — say お年寄り
- Reading 老後 as ろうこ — it voices to ろうご
Memory aid
Picture it
A bent figure leaning on a stick — the shape itself is a picture of age.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 老 mean?