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长老 (zhǎng lǎo) — (Buddhism) senior monk, elder; (Christianity) church elder; (in traditional communities) village elder

Definition

A '长老' is a senior religious or community leader — a respected elder monk, church elder, or village head — whose authority comes from age and standing, not formal office.

noun
(Buddhism) senior monkelder(Christianity) church elder(in traditional communities) village elder
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 长老。
    Zhè wèi zhǎng lǎo shì sì miào lǐ nián jì zuì dà de hé shàng.
    This elder is the oldest monk in the temple.
  • 长老。
    Jiào huì de zhǎng lǎo zhèng zài zhǔ chí huì yì.
    The church elder is presiding over the meeting.
  • 长老。
    Cūn lǐ de zhǎng lǎo men yì qǐ shāng liang shì qing.
    The village elders are discussing matters together.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

长chángsenior
老lǎoold

长 and 老 both point to age and seniority, naming an elder.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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 →
Appears in
Identity & TitlesReligion & Belief

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