老资格 (lǎo zī ge) — old-timer, veteran (a person with long experience and seniority)

Definition

老资格 literally means 'old + qualifications': a veteran or long-time insider with seniority. It often carries a slightly ironic tone, suggesting someone senior but sometimes stuck in old ways.

noun
old-timerveteran (a person with long experience and seniority)

Examples

  • 老资格，。
    Tā shì gōng sī de lǎo zī ge, dà jiā dōu zūn jìng tā.
    He is a veteran of the company; everyone respects him.
  • 老资格。
    Zhè wèi lǎo zī ge zài jì shù fāng miàn jīng yàn fēi cháng fēng fù.
    This old-timer has very rich experience in technology.
  • 老资格，。
    Suī rán tā shì lǎo zī ge, dàn cóng bù bǎi jià zi.
    Although he is a veteran, he never puts on airs.

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lǎolong-standing
资格qualification
资zīqualities格gérank
联合Side by side

老 (long-standing) and 资格 (qualification) together denote a veteran with seniority.

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 資; 资 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell-money
Sound part声符shēngfú
次
次cì資zī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 資 puts 次 above 貝, a shell-money sign, to write property or resource; 次 supplies the sound. The simplified 资 is a shorthand, so do not treat its parts as historical.

Open 资 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè格gé
Same sound today

格 is built from 木 (wood) on the left and 各 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 格 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.