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老将 (lǎo jiàng) — veteran, old hand (in a field); old general

Definition

老将 is a respectful term for a long-experienced veteran in any field — most often used figuratively for a seasoned professional, not just a military general. The literal sense of 'old general' is now rare in modern usage.

noun
veteranold hand (in a field)old general
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 老将，。
    Tā shì yí wèi jīng yàn fēng fù de lǎo jiàng, zài zhè ge háng yè gōng zuò le sān shí nián.
    He is a veteran with rich experience, having worked in this industry for thirty years.
  • 老将。
    Zhè wèi lǎo jiàng céng jīng zài zhàn zhēng zhōng biǎo xiàn fēi cháng chū sè.
    This old general performed very well in the war.
  • ，老将，。
    Zài wǒ men tuán duì, tā shì yí wèi lǎo jiàng, suǒ yǒu xīn rén dōu xiàng tā qǐng jiào.
    In our team, he is a veteran, and all newcomers consult him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

老lǎoold
将jiānggeneral

“老” means old or experienced and “将” means general; an old general is a veteran.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 老 combines 人 (man), 毛 (hair), and 匕 (cane), showing a man with long hair leaning on a cane.

Open 老 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 將; 将 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán將jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 將 combines 爿, which also supplies a sound and may show a small table, with ⺼ (meat) and 寸 (hand) to picture offering meat as tribute. The simplified 将 is a later shorthand.

Open 将 →
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