Definition
元老 (yuán lǎo) refers to a senior, often founding figure in an organization or field, valued for long experience and influence. It contrasts with 泰斗 (tài dǒu), which denotes the top authority or 'grand master' in a field, and with 长辈 (zhǎng bèi), which simply means an elder by age in family terms.
noun
senior figureelderdoyen (often a founding or long-standing member of an organization or field)
Examples
- 元老，。Zuòwéi gōngsī de yuán lǎo, tā jiànzhèng le qǐyè sānshí nián de fāzhǎn.As a senior figure of the company, he has witnessed thirty years of the enterprise's development.
- 元老。Zhè wèi yuán lǎo zài xuéshù jiè dé gāo wàng zhòng.This doyen in academia is highly respected.
- 元老。Dǎng nèi jǐ wèi yuán lǎo gòngtóng cānyù le zhè cì juécè.Several senior figures within the party jointly participated in this decision.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.