老 means “old age, elderly”

ろう · rou

Also: old man, grow old

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

おいる, ふける

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ロウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 6 strokes

The story

An old figure with long hair, bent over a walking stick: 老 began as that picture. 老人 is an elderly person, 老後 the years after work, and each September Japan takes a holiday for its elders: 敬老の日, Respect for the Aged Day.

Used in 老人 (roujin, elderly person), 老後 (rougo, life after retirement), and 敬老の日 (keirou no hi, Respect for the Aged Day)

More from Life & Breath

• 抱 hug
• 息 breath
• 吸 inhale
• 祖 ancestor
• 腹 belly
• 眠 sleep
• 活 lively
• 歳 age
• 身 body
• 若 young
• 命 life
• 亡 pass away

Learn 老 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.