How to pronounce Lao Tzu (老子) in Chinese
Lao Tzu is 老子, Lǎozǐ, "the Old Master": said láo zǐ, roughly "laow dzz". Hear 老子 (lǎo zǐ) spoken, see what it means, then record yourself for instant AI feedback on your pronunciation.
老子
lǎo zǐ
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Characters & meanings
old
master (title)
Common mistake
Say the 子 with its third tone. With a light neutral tone, lǎozi is slang for "I, your old man".
Lao Tzu in Mandarin: what to get right
Laozi, traditionally the author of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), is known in English by the Wade–Giles spelling Lao Tzu. 老 means "old" and 子 "master". The same two characters said lǎozi, with a light neutral tone on 子, are a brash slang word for "I" ("your old man").
How English speakers usually say it
"Lao Tsoo" and "Lao Tzoo" come from the old spelling. In pinyin the z is "dz" and the vowel is a buzz, not "oo"; and the full third tone on 子 is what makes it the philosopher.
How to say 老子 tone by tone
Two third tones, so lǎo becomes láo: "laow", rising. Then zǐ: "dz" plus a buzz, low, and given its full weight. If zǐ comes out short and light, it turns into the slang word.
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