TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 · 字
老
老 ＝ 耂 ＋ 匕
ㄌㄠˇ · lǎo
adj — old, aged; the prefix in 老師、老闆
字源 FORM — what the parts do
耂形long hair and a bent back — the elder
匕形the walking stick, worn into 匕's shape
An elder: long hair, bent back (耂), a hand on a stick — centuries of copying wore the stick into 匕. Age first; then long standing, 老朋友; then the warm prefix in front of names and trades: 老師、老闆、老王.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
長髮花白的人（耂）拄著杖，一步一步慢慢走。
White hair, a bent back (耂), one slow step after another on the stick.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)年老— old, aged常用
→老朋友、老地方— long-standing — the same for years
→老師、老王— the prefix of address
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension