老江湖

lǎojiānghú

idiom #39,396

Measure Word

一个老江湖 gè

Meanings

1 an old hand of the rivers-and-lakes
2 a seasoned veteran; a man of the world
3 someone street-smart from long experience

Characters

old; experienced

Examples

他是个老江湖，这点小事难不倒他。

Tā shì gè lǎojiānghú, zhè diǎn xiǎoshì nán bù dǎo tā.

He's an old hand — something this small won't faze him.

别想骗老江湖，他什么没见过。

Bié xiǎng piàn lǎojiānghú, tā shénme méi jiàn guò.

Don't try to con a seasoned veteran — he's seen it all.

这行要混得久，才算得上老江湖。

Zhè háng yào hùn de jiǔ, cái suàn de shàng lǎojiānghú.

You have to survive in this trade a long time before you count as a true veteran.

Tips

culture

江湖 (literally 'rivers and lakes') is the world outside respectable society — the wandering realm of martial artists, drifters, and travelers. A 老江湖 has spent years in it and picked up the instincts that come with the territory.

register

Usually admiring or neutral. Can carry a whiff of 'he's seen too much to be surprised or shocked anymore.'

Stroke Order

老 lǎo

江 jiāng

湖 hú