活到老 (huó dào lǎo) — to live to an old age (often in the context of lifelong learning)

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'live to old age,' almost always paired with 学到老 to express lifelong learning. Used as a motto or principle, not in ordinary narration.

verb
to live to an old age (often in the context of lifelong learning)

Examples

  • 活到老，。
    huó dào lǎo, Xué dào lǎo.
    Live to old age, learn to old age.
  • 活到老，。
    Tā huó dào lǎo, hái zài xué xí xīn jì néng.
    He lives to an old age and is still learning new skills.
  • 活到老，。
    huó dào lǎo, Jiù yào yì zhí bǎo chí hào qí xīn.
    Live to old age, and you must always maintain curiosity.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

活huólive
到老reach old age
到dàoreach老lǎoold age
动宾Verb + object

活 expresses living, 到老 expresses reaching old age, together describing living to an old age.

Characters in this word

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →

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
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →

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 →

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