老三 (lǎo sān) — third-born child; third eldest (in a family or group)

Definition

老三 means the third-born child (literally 'old three'), naming rank by birth order, not age. In a family or group it's the casual alternative to formal terms like 三女儿 or the third-listed sibling.

noun
third-born childthird eldest (in a family or group)
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 老三，。
    Tā shì jiā lǐ de lǎo sān, shàng miàn yǒu liǎng gè gē ge.
    He is the third child in the family, with two older brothers.
  • 老三，。
    lǎo sān Zài wǒ men bān nián líng zuì xiǎo, dàn chéng jì zuì hǎo.
    The third eldest in our class is the youngest but has the best grades.
  • ，老三。
    Wǒ rèn shi tā men xiōng dì sān rén, lǎo sān zuì yōu mò.
    I know the three brothers; the third one is the funniest.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

老lǎoordinal label
三sānthree

The number 三 gives 'third', and 老 forms familiar ordinal names.

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

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