老ろう巧こう

ろ

う

こ

う

Meanings

Describes someone who has become highly skilled or knowledgeable through long experience, often with a nuance of craftiness or shrewdness. Used as both a noun and a na-adjective.

彼かれは老ろう巧こうな職しょく人にんで、どんな難むずかしい注ちゅう文もんにも応こたえられる。
He is a seasoned craftsman who can handle any difficult order.
老ろう巧こうの政せい治じ家かは、巧たくみな話わ術じゅつで聴ちょう衆しゅうを引ひきつけた。
The veteran politician captivated the audience with his skillful rhetoric.

Kanji

老old man, old age, grow old
巧adroit, skilled, ingenuity
功achievement, merits, success

Related words

ベテラン
ベテラン is a common loanword for 'veteran' or 'experienced person', used in everyday speech. 老巧 is more literary and emphasizes skill gained through age and experience, often with a nuance of shrewdness.
熟じゅく練れん
熟練 means 'proficiency' or 'skill' acquired through practice, focusing on technical mastery. 老巧 adds the dimension of age and seasoned wisdom.

Written forms

老ろう巧こうUsage75%
Standard kanji form; 巧 suggests skill or cleverness.
ろうこうUsage25%
老ろう功こう
Variant kanji form; 功 suggests achievement or merit. Less common than 老巧.

Etymology

Compound of 老 (old, aged) and 巧 (skill, cleverness). The variant 老功 uses 功 (achievement, merit) instead, emphasizing accomplishment through long experience.