Word: 老 (lǎo)

新领导重用了几个老同事。

Xīn lǐngdǎo zhòngyòngle jǐ ge lǎo tóngshì.

The new leader promoted several old colleagues to important positions.

旱地南瓜，越老越红

hàndì nánguā, yuè lǎo yuè hóng

a pumpkin on dry land: the older, the redder

昔日的老同学，今天又见面了。

Xīrì de lǎo tóngxué, jīntiān yòu jiànmiàn le.

Old classmates from former days met again today.

春天来了，老树焕发了生机。

Chūntiān láile, lǎo shù huànfāle shēngjī.

Spring has come, and the old tree has come back to life.

村口有一座很老的牌坊。

Cūnkǒu yǒu yí zuò hěn lǎo de páifāng.

There is a very old memorial archway at the village entrance.

树老怕空，人老怕松

shù lǎo pà kōng, rén lǎo pà sōng

old trees fear going hollow; old people fear going slack

树老根多，人老话多

shù lǎo gēn duō, rén lǎohuà duō

an old tree has many roots; an old person has many words

没有人会因为太老而不能学习。

Méiyǒu rén huì yīnwèi tài lǎo ér bùnéng xuéxí.

Nobody is too old to learn.

活到老,学到老,还有三分没学好

huó dào lǎo,xuédào lǎo,háiyǒu sānfēn méi xuéhǎo

Live till old, learn till old, and still three tenths not learned well

烂透的老南瓜,捧不起来

làntòu de lǎo nánguā,pěng bù qǐlai

A thoroughly rotten old pumpkin: can't be picked up

爷爷老了，听力不好。

Yéye lǎole, tīnglì bù hǎo.

Grandpa is old and his hearing isn't good.

瓜好吃不讲老嫩，人对眼不讲丑俊

guā hǎochī bù jiǎng lǎo nèn, rén duì yǎn bù jiǎng chǒu jùn

if a melon tastes good you don't mind if it's ripe or young; if someone catches your eye you don't mind plain or pretty

甘蔗老来甜，辣椒老来红

gānzhe lǎo lái tián, làjiāo lǎo lái hóng

sugarcane gets sweeter with age, chilli gets redder with age

生气催人老，笑笑变年少

shēngqì cuī rén lǎo, xiàoxiào biàn nián shào

anger hurries a person to old age; laughing makes one young

电影的主人公是一位老医生。

Diànyǐng de zhǔréngōng shì yí wèi lǎo yīshēng.

The hero of the film is an old doctor.

皮肤老了以后，就会失去弹性。

Pífū lǎole yǐhòu, jiù huì shīqù tánxìng.

When skin gets old, it loses its elasticity.

看到老照片，我不由得笑了起来。

Kàndào lǎo zhàopiān, wǒ bùyóude xiàole qǐlai.

Seeing the old photos, I couldn't help laughing.

真爱不会变老。

Zhēn ài búhuì biàn lǎo.

True love never grows old.

等父母老了，我会赡养他们。

Děng fùmǔ lǎole, wǒ huì shànyǎng tāmen.

When my parents get old, I will support them.

老不与少争

lǎo bù yǔ shào zhēng

the old don't contend with the young

老不以筋骨为能

lǎo bù yǐ jīngǔ wéi néng

the old don't count on sinew and bone as their ability

老不拘礼,病不拘礼

lǎo bù jūlǐ,bìng bù jūlǐ

the old needn't stand on ceremony, the sick needn't stand on ceremony

老不舍心,少不舍力

lǎo bù shě xīn,shào bù shě lì

the old shouldn't spare their thought, the young shouldn't spare their strength

老中医闭着眼给他把脉。

Lǎo zhōngyī bì zhuóyǎn gěi tā bǎmài.

The old doctor of Chinese medicine closed his eyes and took his pulse.

老人们很早就起床。

Lǎo rénmen hěn zǎojiù qǐchuáng.

Old people get up very early.

老公鸡披蓑衣,嘴尖毛长

lǎo gōngjī pī suōyī,zuǐjiān Máo cháng

An old rooster in a straw raincoat: sharp beak, long feathers

老北京的天桥有很多艺人。

Lǎo Běijīng de Tiānqiáo yǒu hěn duō yìrén.

Tianqiao in old Beijing had many folk performers.

老同学，你现在在哪儿工作？

Lǎo tóngxué, nǐ xiànzài zài nǎr gōngzuò?

Old pal! Where are you working now?

老同学相约明年在北京见面。

Lǎo tóngxué xiāngyuē míngnián zài Běijīng jiànmiàn.

The old classmates arranged to meet in Beijing next year.

老同志们，请大家先坐下休息。

Lǎo tóngzhìmen, qǐng dàjiā xiān zuòxia xiūxi.

Comrades, please all sit down and rest first.

老同志们都很热情地欢迎我们。

Lǎo tóngzhìmen dōu hěn rèqíng de huānyíng wǒmen.

The veteran comrades all welcomed us warmly.

老和尚念经,总是那一套

lǎo héshang niànjīng,zǒngshì nà yítào

An old monk chanting sutras: always the same routine

老和尚念经,过一天算一天

lǎo héshang niànjīng,guò yì tiān suàn yì tiān

An old monk chanting sutras: just getting through one day at a time

老和尚打鼓,一个点一个点地敲

lǎo héshang dǎgǔ,yí gè diǎn yí gè diǎn dì qiāo

An old monk beating a drum: striking one beat at a time

老和尚的木鱼,不敲不响

lǎo héshang de mùyú,bù qiāo bù xiǎng

An old monk's wooden fish: it doesn't sound unless struck

老和尚的木鱼,天生挨揍的货

lǎo héshang de mùyú,tiānshēng áizòu de huò

an old monk's wooden fish: born to be hit

老和尚说的话里满是玄机。

Lǎo héshang shuō de huà lǐ mǎn shì xuánjī.

The old monk's words are full of profound meaning.

老城里住着很多手艺好的工匠。

Lǎo chénglǐ zhùzhe hěn duō shǒuyì hǎo de gōngjiàng.

Many skilled artisans live in the old town.

老墓里出土了很多宝贝。

Lǎo mù lǐ chūtǔle hěn duō bǎobèi.

Many treasures were unearthed from the old tomb.

老夫妻携手走在河边。

Lǎo fūqī xiéshǒu zǒu zài hébiān.

The elderly couple walked along the river hand in hand.

老妈妈撵兔子,越撵越没影儿

lǎo māma niǎn tùzi,yuè niǎn yuè méiyǐngr

an old woman chasing a rabbit: the more she chases, the more it disappears

老嫂比母,小叔比儿

lǎo sǎo bǐ mǔ,xiǎoshū bǐr

an elder sister-in-law is like a mother, a younger brother-in-law is like a son

老店一直沿用传统配方。

Lǎo diàn yìzhí yányòng chuántǒng pèifāng.

The old shop has always kept using its traditional recipe.

老店的生意渐渐衰落了。

Lǎo diàn de shēngyi jiànjiàn shuāiluòle.

The old shop's business gradually went downhill.

老怕丧子,少怕丧母

lǎo pà sàng zǐ,shào pà sàng mǔ

the old fear losing a son, the young fear losing a mother

老房子建于清朝中叶。

Lǎo fángzi jiàn yú qīngcháo zhōngyè.

The old house was built in the mid-Qing dynasty.

老房子是爷爷遗留给我的。

Lǎo fángzi shì yéye yíliú gěi wǒ de.

The old house was handed down to me by my grandfather.

老房子的地基有多深？

Lǎo fángzi de dìjī yǒu duō shēn?

How deep is the foundation of the old house?

老房子的屋顶是红色的。

Lǎo fángzi de wūdǐng shì hóngsè de.

The old house has a red roof.

老房子的抗震还需要加强。

Lǎo fángzi de kàngzhèn hái xūyào jiāqiáng.

The earthquake protection of old houses still needs strengthening.

老房子的瓦是红色的。

Lǎo fángzi de wǎ shì hóngsè de.

The tiles on the old house are red.

老房子被拆了，邻居们都很痛心。

Lǎo fángzi bèi chāile, línjūmen dōu hěn tòngxīn.

The old house was torn down, and the neighbors were all grieved.

老房子这几年一直在增值。

Lǎo fángzi zhè jǐnián yìzhí zài zēngzhí.

The old house has been appreciating in value these past few years.

老教师对家乡很有情怀。

Lǎo jiàoshī duì jiāxiāng hěn yǒu qínghuái.

The old teacher has deep feelings for his hometown.

老教授风采不减当年。

Lǎo jiàoshòu fēngcǎi bùjiǎndāngnián.

The old professor's elegance is no less than it was back then.

老村子里有一座很旧的戏台。

Lǎo cūnzi lǐ yǒu yí zuò hěn jiù de xìtái.

There is a very old opera stage in the old village.

老校长在村里很有威望。

Lǎo xiàozhǎng zài cūnlǐ hěn yǒu wēiwàng.

The old principal has great prestige in the village.

老校长很受学生敬爱。

Lǎo xiàozhǎng hěn shòu xuésheng jìng'ài.

The old principal is deeply respected and loved by the students.

老桥在地震后依然完好。

Lǎo qiáo zài dìzhèn hòu yīrán wánhǎo.

The old bridge is still intact after the earthquake.

老母猪吃碗碴儿,肚里有瓷儿

lǎo mǔzhū chī wǎn chár,dùlǐ yǒu cí ér

an old sow eats broken bowl shards: there's china (words) in her belly

老母猪啃砖头,嘴硬

lǎo mǔzhū kěn zhuāntou,zuǐyìng

an old sow gnawing bricks: hard mouth

老母猪翻跟头,全凭嘴支着

lǎo mǔzhū fāngēntou,quán píng zuǐ zhī zhe

an old sow doing a somersault: relies entirely on her snout to prop her up

老母猪钻篱笆,进退两难

lǎo mǔzhū zuān líba,jìntuìliǎngnán

an old sow pushing into a hedge: can neither go forward nor back

老母猪顶牛角,豁出老脸

lǎo mǔzhū dǐng niújiǎo,huōchū lǎoliǎn

an old sow butting a cow's horns: risks her old face

老母鸡撵兔子,假充鹰

lǎo mǔjī niǎn tùzi,jiǎchōng yīng

a hen chasing a rabbit: pretending to be a hawk

老照片激起了爷爷对往事的回忆。

Lǎo zhàopiān jīqǐle yéye duì wǎngshì de huíyì.

The old photos evoked Grandpa's memories of the past.

老照片让往事重现眼前。

Lǎo zhàopiān ràng wǎngshì chóngxiàn yǎnqián.

The old photos made the past reappear before my eyes.

老狗啃骨头,咬住不放

lǎo gǒu kěngútou,yǎo zhù bú fàng

An old dog gnawing a bone: bites and won't let go

老猫房上睡,一辈传一辈

lǎo māo fáng shang shuì,yíbèi chuán yíbèi

an old cat sleeps on the roof: passed down generation to generation

老猫睡在火炉旁,不是伸腰就是打哈欠

lǎo māo shuì zài huǒlú páng,bú shì shēnyāo jiùshì dǎhāqian

an old cat sleeping by the stove: either stretching or yawning

老猴儿偷玉米,专找嫩的

lǎo hóur tōu yùmǐ,zhuān zhǎo nèn de

An old monkey stealing corn: picks only the tender ears

老电线杆子,挂的线越来越多

lǎo diànxiàngān zǐ,guà de xiàn yuèláiyuè duō

An old telephone pole: more and more wires (titles) hung on it

老画家的笔触轻重分明。

Lǎo huàjiā de bǐchù qīngzhòng fēnmíng.

The old painter's brush strokes vary clearly between light and heavy.

老管家为客人打开了大门。

Lǎo guǎnjiā wèi kèrén dǎkāile dàmén.

The old butler opened the front door for the guests.

老粪坑底子上挖出来的琉璃瓦,几百年前的老古董

lǎo fènkēng dǐzi shàng wā chūlái de liúliwǎ,jǐ bǎinián qián de lǎogǔdǒng

Glazed tiles dug up from the bottom of an old cesspit: antiques from several hundred years ago

老职工们都很熟悉这里。

Lǎo zhígōngmen dōu hěn shúxī zhèlǐ.

The longtime employees are all very familiar with this place.

老股民说，别借钱买股票。

Lǎo gǔmín shuō, bié jièqián mǎi gǔpiào.

An experienced share trader says not to borrow money to buy stocks.

老肥猪上屠宰场,挨刀的货

lǎo féi zhū shàng túzǎichǎng,áidāode huò

an old fat pig at the slaughterhouse: something fated for the knife

老艺人品德高洁，人人敬重。

Lǎo yìrén pǐndé gāojié, rénrén jìngzhòng.

The old artist is of noble character and respected by everyone.

老艺人的唱腔很有味道。

Lǎo yìrén de chàngqiāng hěn yǒu wèidao.

The veteran performer's singing style has real character.

老街上的买卖一直很兴隆。

Lǎo jiēshang de mǎimai yìzhí hěn xīnglóng.

Trade on the old street has always been thriving.

老马识归途

lǎo mǎ shí guītú

the old horse knows the way home

腊八生的,老冻

làbā shēng de,lǎo dòng

Born on Laba: always freezing

茄子也让三分老

qiézi yě ràng sānfēn lǎo

even eggplants are allowed to be a bit old

谁都想活得长久，但没人想变老。

Shéi dōu xiǎng huó de chángjiǔ, dàn méi rén xiǎng biàn lǎo.

Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old.

走进老房子，仿佛回到了小时候。

Zǒujìn lǎo fángzi, fǎngfú huídàole xiǎoshíhou.

Walking into the old house, it felt as if I'd gone back to my childhood.

运河两边的老房子很漂亮。

Yùnhé liǎngbian de lǎo fángzi hěn piàoliang.

The old houses on both sides of the canal are beautiful.

这个故事是老张给我讲的。

Zhège gùshi shì lǎo zhāng gěi wǒ jiǎng de.

Lao Zhang told me this story.

这个老小区明年就要拆迁了。

Zhège lǎo xiǎoqū míngnián jiùyào chāiqiānle.

This old neighborhood will be demolished next year.

这位老教授有很多重要的著作。

Zhèwèi lǎo jiàoshòu yǒu hěn duō zhòngyào de zhùzuò.

This old professor has many important works.

这位老教授的讲座冗长而沉闷。

Zhèwèi lǎo jiàoshòu de jiǎngzuò rǒngcháng ér chénmèn.

The old professor's lectures are long-winded and ponderous.

这位老歌手的经历很传奇。

Zhèwèi lǎo gēshǒu de jīnglì hěn chuánqí.

This old singer has had a legendary life.

这句话出自一首老诗。

Zhè jù huà chūzì yì shǒu lǎo shī.

This line comes from an old poem.

这只乌龟很老了。

Zhè zhī wūguī hěn lǎole.

This turtle is really old.

这家老店以面条驰名。

Zhè jiā lǎo diàn yǐ miàntiáo chímíng.

This old shop is famous for its noodles.

这座老庙里同时有三教的神像。

Zhè zuò lǎo miào lǐ tóngshí yǒu Sānjiào de shénxiàng.

This old temple has statues from all of the Three Teachings.

这座老房子是那位作家的故居。

Zhè zuò lǎo fángzi shì nà wèi zuòjiā de gùjū.

This old house is the former residence of that writer.

这座老桥看起来很坚固。

Zhè zuò lǎo qiáo kànqǐlai hěn jiāngù.

This old bridge looks very sturdy.

这座老桥终于修复好了。

Zhè zuò lǎo qiáo zhōngyú xiūfù hǎole.

This old bridge has finally been restored.

这张老照片太模糊了，很难辨认。

Zhè zhāng lǎo zhàopiān tài móhule, hěn nán biànrèn.

This old photo is too blurry; it's hard to make out.