The pronunciation of "Lao" is: lāo.
The radical "Lao" is simplified to "Lao". According to ancient calligraphy, strokes are saved and simplified. Exerting force in a relatively claustrophobic and independent space is the paradigm of labor. Needing to reach out to retrieve something in a relatively claustrophobic and independent space is the paradigm of fishing.
Original meaning: to take something from water or other liquids. Such as: fishing, fishing, looking for a needle in a haystack.
Extension: Extended meaning "obtaining by improper means". Such as: get a handful, get benefits.
To take something from a liquid: fish it out. salvage. Looking for a needle in a haystack.
Obtained by unfair means: get a handful.
Detailed explanation:
1. (Phonetic. From hand, labor sound. Original meaning: to find something from the water).
2. The same as the original meaning (fish for; dredge up). Such as: salvage (finding things sunk in the water and bringing them up); fishing (catching and salvaging); fishing (picking things from the water).
3. Gain by improper means. For example: seize the opportunity to make a fortune; lao'er (referring to extra harvest); lao lao tie (using hands and feet, pulling and tugging); laojia (dialect. Refers to a gangster who has no legitimate occupation and lives by stealing and defrauding).
4. Capture. For example: He was caught once; fishing (to catch, capture); fishing for the dragon (to make the dragon leave the sea. Metaphor of being in trouble).
5. Chatter. Such as: talking too much; boasting.
6. Compensate (recoup) yourself for something (such as consumption, loss). Such as: fishing off the tip (turning the original).
7. In Cantonese, it means other provinces and people from other provinces. The word itself does not have any derogatory connotations: laotou (people from other provinces), laozai (boys from other provinces), laomei (girls from other provinces) (people from Guangdong who go to other places) They also call themselves "Lao", the word itself has no linguistic color).
8. Sometimes words are followed by indecent swear words, making the meaning of the word insulting (just like the Chinese word "mother", which itself is not derogatory, but if followed by letters or swear words, it will become a curse word), which will remain unclear for a long time. The truth is that outsiders mistakenly believe that the word "Lao" itself is also an insult, which leads to misunderstanding.