The old general's prized skill hasn't dulled with age.
Tips
history
Famously fixed in the chengyu 宝刀未老 (bǎodāo wèi lǎo, 'the treasured saber has not yet grown old') — used to praise older masters whose abilities remain sharp. The phrase comes from a 《三国演义》 anecdote about Huang Zhong (黄忠), an aging Shu general who proved he could still defeat young rivals.
usage
宝 (bǎo) is the 'treasured/precious' modifier (also in 宝剑 bǎojiàn 'treasured sword', 宝马 bǎomǎ 'prized horse' — and the BMW brand's Chinese name). 刀 specifically means a single-edged blade (saber/knife), distinct from 剑 (jiàn, double-edged sword).
