nin4 lou5年老
Jyutpingnin4 lou5
Yalenìhn lóuh
Definition
Old; elderly; advanced in age.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
While this word describes someone who is aged, it sounds formal and slightly detached, often appearing in written reports or news. In daily conversation, people almost always prefer using 老人家 or 年紀大 to describe someone's advanced age. Using it to describe a specific person to their face can sound overly clinical or even blunt.
Examples
His family members are aged and need someone to look after them.
Remember to give up your seat when you see an elderly person.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe objects or animals, as it is strictly reserved for human beings. It is not a direct substitute for the casual adjective 老 when talking about things like old clothes or old habits.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
