Featured image for 牢 láo Dictionary entry displaying the word's hanzi, pinyin and the Mandarin Temple logo and tagline.

Pronunciation

láo

To complete this step you need to listen to the audio pronunciation of the word once.

láo Meaning

Learn the Pinyin Pronunciation and 9 English Translations of the word láo .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

Pīnyīn Pronunciation
láo | lao2
English translation
firm
sturdy
fold (for animals)
sacrifice
prison
pen, prison, stable; fast, firm, secure

Learn the Chinese word láo in 8 easy steps:

1
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the first learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
2
Unlocks in 48h after completing the first learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
3
Unlocks in 7 days after completing the second learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
Slide 1 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 2 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 3 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

About láo

Read some general information about the Chinese word láo .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Number of strokes

7

Traditional form

láo

Contains the radical

Niú

Part of speech

Adjective / 形容词 xíng róng cí Xíngróng cí

Learning hint

A stable  gài  where cattle are kept  Niú

Etymology of láo

Familiarize yourself with the origin and historical aspects of the Chinese word láo .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Type

ideographic

Positional decomposition

宀牛

Write it!

Practice your Chinese writing skills and learn precisely where and when to draw every stroke of the
Chinese word láo .
     Press the Show Strokes button to see the strokes and their order and hit Start Drawing when you are
ready to practice.

To complete this step you need to write the word once.

Spread the word

Example sentences using láo

Broaden your vocabulary by interacting with 5 audio-assisted sentences using the Chinese word láo in different contexts.

To complete this step you need to listen to each of the five Chinese sentences at least once. and scroll down.

yǒu 什么 shénme 牢骚 láosāo jiù xuàn xiè 出来 chū lái ,不要 bù yào biē zài 肚子 dùzi .

Let off some steam. Get in out of your system.

Cóng 远处 yuǎn chù 敌人 dírén de 牢房 láo fáng 不时 bùshí 传来 chuán lái cǎn 不忍 bù rěn Wén 的尖叫 shēng .

Heart - rending screams could now and then be heard from the enemy prison in the distance.

Zhāng 椅子 yǐzi yǒu tiáo tuǐ láo , yāo zhàn zài 上面 shàng miàn .

Don't stand on that chair, it's got a weak leg.

绳子 shéngzi 牢牢地 zài 树上.

He attached the rope securely to a tree.

坐牢 zuò láo , rén 无宁 wú nìng .

There's no safety for anyone until he is under lock and key.

Words with láo

Explore 22 words and sayings that include the Chinese character láo in their composition.

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

FrequencySimplifiedMeaningTraditional
láo firm láo
坐牢 zuò láo to be imprisoned坐牢 zuò láo
牢牢 láo láo firmly牢牢 láo láo
牢固 láogù firm牢固 láogù
牢房 láo fáng jail cell牢房 láo fáng
牢记 láo jì to keep in mind牢記
发牢骚 fā láo sāo to whine發牢騷
牢骚 láosāo discontent牢騷
牢狱 láo yù prison牢獄
地牢 dì láo prison地牢 dì láo
大牢 dà láo prison大牢 dà láo
套牢 tào láo to immobilize with a lasso套牢 tào láo
牢笼 láo lóng cage牢籠
牢靠 láo kào robust牢靠 láo kào
监牢 jiān láo prison監牢
亡羊补牢 wáng yáng bǔ láo fig. to act belatedly亡羊補牢
牢狱之灾 láo yù zhī zāi imprisonment牢獄之災
画地为牢 huà dì wéi láo lit. to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground (idiom)畫地為牢
水牢 shuǐ láo prison cell containing water, in which prisoners are forced to be partly immersed水牢 shuǐ láo
满腹牢骚 mǎn fù láo sāo discontent滿腹牢騷
坚牢 jiān láo strong堅牢
钉牢 dīng láo to nail down釘牢

láo Decomposition & Compounds

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

láo Decomposition

See the 2 Chinese characters that make up láo and their own compounds.

láo Compounds

See all 2 Chinese words that contain the character láo in their composition.

  • láo
    • láo ,
Recommended Books for Learning Mandarin Chinese

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

A Boy and his Dragon

Once upon a time, a Little Boy was living in a village near the woods. One day, a Dragon came out of the cave secluded in the middle of the forest and began to relentlessly follow the Little Boy, always breathing on the back of his neck, burning the young boy at his slightest misstep.

The child received refuge in an old Temple where there were no mirrors allowed, and it was forbidden to speak of life before entering the sanctum. Ancient books, hidden rooms with unimaginable treasures and beauty beyond comprehension, became part of the boy’s new life.

Time went by until, one day, the now old young boy accidentally glimpses his own reflection in a pond. The Dragon smiled back.

Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.

Copyright © 2026 Mandarin Temple. All rights reserved.

Scroll to Top