老: the kanji for old; elderly
老 is a JLPT N3 kanji that means old; elderly. Below are its readings, 2 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
老 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
老 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 2 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ロウ (rou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 老人ろうじん · rōjin | elderly person |
おいる (oiru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 老いるおいる · oiru | to grow old |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 老人施設でボランティアをした。Rōjin shisetsu de borantia o shita.I volunteered at a facility for the elderly.
- 祖父は老いても元気です。Sofu wa oite mo genki desu.My grandfather is healthy even though he has grown old.
- 老人ホームを訪問しました。Rōjin hōmu o hōmon shimashita.I visited a nursing home.
- 彼は年を取っても老いを感じさせない。Kare wa toshi o totte mo oi o kanjisasenai.He doesn't seem to age even though he's gotten older.
- 老人の知恵から学ぶことが多い。Rōjin no chie kara manabu koto ga ōi.There is much to learn from the wisdom of the elderly.
Questions about 老
How many strokes does 老 have?
老 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 老?
The on readings are rou (ロウ). The kun readings are oiru (おいる), fukeru (ふける).
What JLPT level is 老?
N3. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N3 falls between the former Levels 2 and 3.
More JLPT N3 kanji
Body and health
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 老
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.