U+8001 "老" CJK Unified Ideograph-# Unicode Character
U+8001 "老" CJK Unified Ideograph-# is a foundational ideograph in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) scripts, denoting "old," "aged," or "elderly," and often carries connotations of respect, experience, and seniority. In Chinese, it appears in words like "老师" (teacher, literally "old master") and "老人" (old person), while in Japanese it is used in terms such as "老人" (rōjin, elderly person) and "老舗" (shinise, long-established shop). The character's form, traditionally composed of a person with a stooped posture and a cane, visually represents the concept of aging. It is also a common radical in other kanji, such as "考" (consider, examine) and "孝" (filial piety), linking it to themes of reflection and familial duty. As one of the most frequent characters in both Chinese and Japanese writing, "老" embodies cultural values surrounding age and wisdom across East Asian societies.