Comparing "jiu" and "lao"

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Both 旧 (jiù) and 老 (lǎo) mean "old," but 旧 (jiù) refers more to a worn-out, beat-up appearance of an object, whereas 老 (lǎo) refers to actual age in existence and can refer to people.











B1HSK3ASV4567
旧 (jiù) 老 (lǎo)
Meaning worn out aged, experienced; "the usual," existing for a long time
Part of Speech adjective adjective
Formality formal and informal formal and informal

For "worn out" use 旧 (jiù)

Use this to refer to objects that have been in use for a long time and thus are work out or beat up.

Common Phrases

These phrases work with 旧 (jiù):

  • 衣服jiù yīfuold clothing
  • 电视jiù diànshìold TV
  • 电脑jiù diànnǎoold computer
  • 手机jiù shǒujīold cell phone
  • 家具jiù jiājùold furniture
  • 自行车jiù zìxíngchēold bicycle

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, ONLY 旧(jiù)can be used:

  • 你的 衣服 了 , 买 新 的 吧 。 Nǐ de yīfu tài jiù le, mǎi xīn de ba.Your clothes are too old, buy new ones.
  • 这 是 鞋子, 不 是 新 鞋子 。 Zhè shì jiù xiézi , bù shì xīn xiézi.These are old shoes, not new shoes.
  • 我 的 手机 是 手机Wǒ de shǒujī shì jiù shǒujī .My phone is an old phone.
  • 伦敦 的 火车站 非常 Lúndūn de huǒchēzhàn fēicháng jiù .The train station in London is very old.
  • 他 有 一 辆 自行车Tā yǒu yī liàng jiù zìxíngchē .He has an old bicycle.

For "aged" or "existing for a long time" use 老 (lǎo)

While 老 (lǎo) can mean "aged," it often imparts a certain degree of respect, traditionally. It can also be difficult to determine exactly when 老 (lǎo) is a separate word and when it is a part of a word.

Common Phrases

These phrases work ONLY with 老 (lǎo):

  • 老人lǎorénthe elder
  • lǎo shùold tree
  • 房子 lǎo fángziold house
  • 故事lǎo gùshìold story
  • 朋友lǎo péngyǒu old friend

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, ONLY 老 (lǎo) can be used:

  • 这个 了,感觉 他 90 岁 了。 Zhège rén hěn lǎo le, gǎnjué tā 90 suì le.This man is very old, it feels like he's 90 years old.
  • 我 在 这里 有 很 多 朋友Wǒ zài zhèlǐ yǒu hěn duō lǎo péngyou .I have a lot of old friends here.
  • 这 部 电影 是 一 部 电影Zhè bù diànyǐng shì yī bù lǎo diànyǐng .This movie is an old movie.
  • 在 这里 , 有 很 多 建筑 , 没有 空调 , 夏天 很 热 。 Zài zhèlǐ, yǒu hěn duō lǎo de jiànzhù , méiyǒu kōngtiáo, xiàtiān hěn rè.Here, there are a lot of old buildings, no air conditioning, and it's very hot in the summer.

For "the usual" or "same as always" use 老 (lǎo)

Common Phrases

These phrases work ONLY with 老 (lǎo):

  • 老样子lǎoyàngzisame old (situation)
  • 老地方 lǎo dìfangthe old place

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, ONLY 老 (lǎo) can be used:

  • 明天 我们 在 老 地方见 吧。 Míngtiān wǒmen zài lǎo dìfang jiàn ba.I'll see you at the usual place tomorrow.
  • 我 最近的 工作 还是 老样子Wǒ zuìjìn de gōngzuò háishì lǎo yàngzi .I've been doing the same old thing lately.