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养老 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
养老yǎnglǎoto provide for the elderly (family members)HSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #16911, Hard
养老yǎnglǎoto enjoy a life in retirementHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #16911, Hard
yǎnglǎo(yang3lao3) T3
  1. 1to provide for the elderly (family members)
  2. 2to enjoy a life in retirement
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March 24, 2026

养老(養老)yǎnglǎo(yang3lao3)

养老 refers to the act of providing care and support for the elderly, particularly family members, ensuring their well-being as they age. It also denotes the enjoyment of a comfortable and leisurely life during retirement, reflecting a broader cultural emphasis on filial piety and respect for elders in Chinese society.

Strokes15Frequency#16911DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 养老 is deeply rooted in the value of filial piety (孝, xiao4), where taking care of one's parents and elders is seen as a moral duty, often influencing family dynamics and living arrangements.

Memory Tip

Think of '养' (yang3) as nurturing, like raising a plant, and '老' (lao3) as old. Imagine a garden where you care for an old tree, providing it with the support it needs to thrive, symbolizing the care given to elderly family members.

Meanings of 养老

yǎnglǎo(yang3lao3)
1to provide for the elderly (family members)
2to enjoy a life in retirement
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About 养老

养老Simplified
養老Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

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Podcast: 养老

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AI Study Notes for 养老

Quick Contrast

养活 (yǎnghuó, to support financially) vs 养老 (yǎnglǎo, to care for the elderly) — use 养老 when emphasizing care and well-being for the elderly, rather than just financial support.

Usage Notes

Use 养老 in contexts discussing elder care or retirement planning. A common mistake is to confuse it with '老年' (lao3 nian2), which simply means 'old age.' Remember that 养老 emphasizes the care aspect, crucial in conversations about family responsibilities.

HSK Study Tips

While 养老 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to themes of family and social responsibility found in HSK Level 3 and above. Focus on how this term connects with discussions about family roles and societal obligations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 养老 in contexts unrelated to elder care, such as using it to describe general retirement savings. Instead, use it specifically when discussing responsibilities towards elderly family members.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 养老

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Component Characters

养yǎngto raise (animals)
HSK 39 strokes丷
View full entry
老lǎoold (of people)
HSK 36 strokes老
View full entry

How to say to provide for the elderly (family members) in Chinese

“to provide for the elderly (family members)” in Chinese is养老yǎnglǎo

养老 refers to the act of providing care and support for the elderly, particularly family members, ensuring their well-being as they age. It also denotes the enjoyment of a comfortable and leisurely life during retirement, reflecting a broader cultural emphasis on filial piety and respect for elders in Chinese society.

When to use 养老

Use 养老 in contexts discussing elder care or retirement planning. A common mistake is to confuse it with '老年' (lao3 nian2), which simply means 'old age.' Remember that 养老 emphasizes the care aspect, crucial in conversations about family responsibilities.

养老 or something close to it

养活 (yǎnghuó, to support financially) vs 养老 (yǎnglǎo, to care for the elderly) — use 养老 when emphasizing care and well-being for the elderly, rather than just financial support.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 养老 in contexts unrelated to elder care, such as using it to describe general retirement savings. Instead, use it specifically when discussing responsibilities towards elderly family members.

Write 养老

养
老

Practice writing 养老 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 养老

养老 specifically refers to the care and support provided for the elderly, while 老年 simply means old age.

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