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老朋友 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
老朋友lǎopéngyouold friendHSK 2, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #2666, Easy
老朋友lǎopéngyou(slang) periodHSK 2, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #2666, Easy
老朋友lǎopéngyoumenstruationHSK 2, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #2666, Easy
lǎopéngyou(lao3peng2you5) T3
  1. 1old friend
  2. 2(slang) period
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March 24, 2026

老朋友lǎopéngyou(lao3peng2you5)

老朋友 (lǎo péngyǒu) means 'old friend,' referring to someone you have known for a long time, often implying a deep bond or familiarity. It can also be used informally to refer to a period or menstruation, showcasing its versatility in different contexts.

Strokes18Frequency#2666DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, friendships are often cherished deeply, and terms like 老朋友 reflect the importance of long-term relationships. The informal use as a slang term for menstruation also highlights cultural openness about discussing bodily functions among friends.

Memory Tip

Imagine an older person (老) greeting you warmly as an old friend (朋友), sharing stories from the past. Visualize them wearing a name tag that says 'Friend Since Forever' to remember the connection and pronunciation.

Meanings of 老朋友

lǎopéngyou(lao3peng2you5)
1old friend
2(slang) period
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About 老朋友

老朋友Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 老朋友

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Podcast: 老朋友

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AI Study Notes for 老朋友

Quick Contrast

老友 (lǎo yǒu) - use '老朋友' for a more familiar or affectionate tone, while '老友' is slightly more formal.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the informal usage of 老朋友 to refer to menstruation, as it may not be appropriate in formal contexts. The tone can also affect meaning; ensure you're using the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 老朋友 is not a specific HSK level word, its components, 老 (old) and 朋友 (friend), are foundational and often appear in HSK vocabulary. Focus on recognizing and using these components to build your understanding of related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 老朋友 with just 朋友 (friend), missing the nuance of long-term connection. For example, saying '这是我的朋友' (This is my friend) instead of '这是我的老朋友' (This is my old friend) when referring to someone you've known for years.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 老朋友

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Component Characters

老lǎoold (of people)
HSK 36 strokes老
View full entry
朋péngfriend
HSK 18 strokes月
View full entry
友yǒufriend
HSK 34 strokes又
View full entry

How to say old friend in Chinese

“old friend” in Chinese is老朋友lǎopéngyou

老朋友 (lǎo péngyǒu) means 'old friend,' referring to someone you have known for a long time, often implying a deep bond or familiarity. It can also be used informally to refer to a period or menstruation, showcasing its versatility in different contexts.

When to use 老朋友

Be careful with the informal usage of 老朋友 to refer to menstruation, as it may not be appropriate in formal contexts. The tone can also affect meaning; ensure you're using the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.

老朋友 or something close to it

老友 (lǎo yǒu) - use '老朋友' for a more familiar or affectionate tone, while '老友' is slightly more formal.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 老朋友 with just 朋友 (friend), missing the nuance of long-term connection. For example, saying '这是我的朋友' (This is my friend) instead of '这是我的老朋友' (This is my old friend) when referring to someone you've known for years.

Write 老朋友

老
朋
友

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 老朋友

It's best to avoid using 老朋友 in formal settings, especially when referring to menstruation, as it is considered slang.

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