yǎnglǎo: 养老 - To Provide for the Elderly; To Live Out One's Retirement

• Keywords: yǎnglǎo, 养老, Chinese retirement, elder care in China, provide for parents, filial piety, pension in Chinese, nursing home in Chinese, support parents, 养儿防老, 空巢老人, Chinese culture
• Summary: The Chinese term 养老 (yǎnglǎo) is a rich cultural concept that goes far beyond the English idea of “retirement.” It refers to both the act of children supporting their parents in old age and the state of living out one's later years. Rooted in the core value of filial piety (孝, xiào), 养老 traditionally involves direct financial, physical, and emotional care from family. This page explores the deep meaning of 养老, its cultural significance, its evolution in modern China amidst new social pressures, and how to use it correctly in conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǎnglǎo
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To support and care for one's elderly parents; to live out one's final years (often with support).
• In a Nutshell: 养老 (yǎnglǎo) is a two-sided concept. From the perspective of adult children, it's their solemn duty to provide for their aging parents. From the perspective of the elderly, it's the period of their life after retirement where they are cared for. It's less about individual financial independence and more about an inter-generational contract of care and respect.

• 养 (yǎng): To raise, to nurture, to support, or to cultivate. Think of raising a child (养孩子, yǎng háizi) or keeping a pet (养宠物, yǎng chǒngwù). It implies providing everything needed for life and growth.
• 老 (lǎo): Old, elderly, aged. This character is straightforward and refers to the later stages of life.
• Combined Meaning: The characters literally combine to mean “to support the old.” This beautifully and directly captures the core idea of providing for the elderly, emphasizing the active role of the provider.

养老 (yǎnglǎo) is one of the most significant concepts in Chinese family and social structure, directly reflecting the principle of filial piety (孝, xiào). Traditionally, the responsibility for elder care fell almost exclusively on the children, particularly sons. This was encapsulated in the famous proverb 养儿防老 (yǎng ér fáng lǎo) - “raise sons to provide for old age.” In this model, having children was a form of social security, and a person's quality of life in their later years depended heavily on their children's success and devotion. Comparison to Western “Retirement”:

• Responsibility: In the West, “retirement” is often viewed as an individual's responsibility. People save their own money, invest in a 401(k) or pension, and aim for financial independence so as not to be a “burden” on their children. In contrast, traditional Chinese 养老 is a collective, family-based responsibility where children are expected to be the primary support system.
• Proximity: While Western retirees might move to a retirement community in another state, the ideal of 养老 involves the elderly living with or very near their children, receiving daily care and companionship.
• The “Debt” of Gratitude: 养老 is seen as repaying the debt of gratitude one owes their parents for raising them. This is summed up in the common saying: “父母养我们小，我们养他们老” (Fùmǔ yǎng wǒmen xiǎo, wǒmen yǎng tāmen lǎo) - “Our parents raised us when we were young, we support them when they are old.”

The concept of 养老 is currently in a state of massive transition. The one-child policy created the “4-2-1” family structure (one child responsible for two parents and four grandparents), making the traditional model unsustainable. Urbanization also means children often live and work thousands of miles from their parents. Because of this, the term 养老 is now frequently used in discussions about modern social challenges and solutions:

• 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn) - Pension: Discussions about whether one's government or company pension will be enough.
• 养老院 (yǎnglǎoyuàn) - Nursing Home: A once-stigmatized option that is becoming more common out of necessity. Sending parents to a nursing home can still be a source of guilt and social debate.
• 养老保险 (yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn) - Retirement Insurance: Personal insurance policies people buy to supplement their state pension.
• 旅居养老 (lǚjū yǎnglǎo) - “Travel-based Retirement”: A new trend where retirees spend part of the year in different cities with better climates or lower costs of living, such as in Hainan or Yunnan.

In conversation, talking about your 养老 plans means discussing how you will be supported and where you will live in your old age. Asking someone about their parents' 养老 is asking how they are being cared for.

• Example 1:
  • 父母养我们小，我们养他们老，这是天经地义的。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ yǎng wǒmen xiǎo, wǒmen yǎng tāmen lǎo, zhè shì tiānjīngdìyì de.
  • English: Our parents raised us when we were young, so it's only right and proper that we support them when they are old.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly encapsulates the traditional, reciprocal nature of 养老 as a moral duty.
• Example 2:
  • 很多年轻人压力很大，因为他们要为父母的养老问题做准备。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén yālì hěn dà, yīnwèi tāmen yào wèi fùmǔ de yǎnglǎo wèntí zuò zhǔnbèi.
  • English: Many young people are under a lot of pressure because they have to prepare for their parents' elder care.
  • Analysis: Here, 养老 is used as a noun phrase, “养老问题” (the problem of elder care), highlighting the financial and logistical stress it can cause in modern society.
• Example 3:
  • 他计划退休后回老家养老。
  • Pinyin: Tā jìhuà tuìxiū hòu huí lǎojiā yǎnglǎo.
  • English: He plans to return to his hometown to live out his retirement after he retires.
  • Analysis: This shows 养老 used to describe one's own retirement lifestyle. The location (老家, hometown) is often a key part of the plan.
• Example 4:
  • 你的养老金每个月有多少？够用吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de yǎnglǎojīn měi ge yuè yǒu duōshǎo? Gòu yòng ma?
  • English: How much is your pension each month? Is it enough?
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the most common related term, 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn), or pension, which is the modern financial pillar of 养老.
• Example 5:
  • 把父母送去养老院，他心里很不是滋味。
  • Pinyin: Bǎ fùmǔ sòng qù yǎnglǎoyuàn, tā xīnli hěn bú shì zīwèi.
  • English: He felt very bad about sending his parents to a nursing home.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural conflict and guilt often associated with using a 养老院 (yǎnglǎoyuàn), or nursing home, instead of providing personal care.
• Example 6:
  • “养儿防老”的传统观念在现代社会受到了挑战。
  • Pinyin: “Yǎng ér fáng lǎo” de chuántǒng guānniàn zài xiàndài shèhuì shòudào le tiǎozhàn.
  • English: The traditional concept of “raising sons to provide for old age” has been challenged in modern society.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly references the traditional saying, providing crucial cultural context for why 养老 is such a complex issue today.
• Example 7:
  • 随着中国人口老龄化，如何养老已经成为一个重要的社会问题。
  • Pinyin: Suízhe Zhōngguó rénkǒu lǎolínghuà, rúhé yǎnglǎo yǐjīng chéngwéi yí ge zhòngyào de shèhuì wèntí.
  • English: As China's population ages, how to provide for the elderly has already become an important social issue.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used at a macro, societal level. “如何养老” (how to provide for the elderly) is a major topic in Chinese news and government policy.
• Example 8:
  • 除了钱以外，老人养老更需要的是精神上的陪伴。
  • Pinyin: Chúle qián yǐwài, lǎorén yǎnglǎo gèng xūyào de shì jīngshén shàng de péibàn.
  • English: Besides money, what the elderly need more for their retirement is spiritual companionship.
  • Analysis: This highlights that 养老 isn't just a financial concept; it also includes crucial emotional support.
• Example 9:
  • 为了给自己一个更好的养老生活，他年轻时就买了养老保险。
  • Pinyin: Wèile gěi zìjǐ yí ge gèng hǎo de yǎnglǎo shēnghuó, tā niánqīng shí jiù mǎi le yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn.
  • English: In order to give himself a better retirement life, he bought retirement insurance when he was young.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the modern, individualistic approach to planning for 养老 using financial products like 养老保险 (retirement insurance).
• Example 10:
  • 这家公司为员工提供很好的养老福利。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī wèi yuángōng tígōng hěn hǎo de yǎnglǎo fúlì.
  • English: This company provides excellent retirement benefits for its employees.
  • Analysis: Here, 养老 is used as an adjective to describe benefits (福利, fúlì), common in the context of employment packages.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 养老 (yǎnglǎo) with 退休 (tuìxiū).

• 退休 (tuìxiū) - To Retire: This is the specific event of stopping your job or career. It is a verb.
• 养老 (yǎnglǎo) - To Live Out Retirement / Be Cared For: This is the state or period of life *after* you have retired. It's about the lifestyle, location, and support system.

Think of it as a sequence: 你先退休，然后才开始养老。(Nǐ xiān tuìxiū, ránhòu cái kāishǐ yǎnglǎo.) - “First you retire, and only then do you begin to live out your old age.” Incorrect Usage:

• `我计划明年养老。` (Wǒ jìhuà míngnián yǎnglǎo.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds like “I plan to provide for the elderly next year” or “I plan to be cared for by others next year.” It misses the crucial first step.

Correct Usage:

• `我计划明年退休。` (Wǒ jìhuà míngnián tuìxiū.)
• `我计划明年退休，然后去海南养老。` (Wǒ jìhuà míngnián tuìxiū, ránhòu qù Hǎinán yǎnglǎo.)

• 退休 (tuìxiū) - To retire (from work). The action that officially begins the period of 养老.
• 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - Filial piety; to be a dutiful child. The core cultural value that morally obligates children to 养老.
• 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn) - Pension; retirement fund. The primary financial instrument for modern 养老.
• 养老院 (yǎnglǎoyuàn) - Nursing home; elder care facility. An institutional solution for 养老.
• 养儿防老 (yǎng ér fáng lǎo) - An idiom: “Raise sons to provide for old age.” The traditional philosophy behind the family's role in 养老.
• 空巢老人 (kōng cháo lǎorén) - “Empty-nest elderly.” A modern social phenomenon where elderly parents live alone, posing a challenge to the traditional model of 养老.
• 赡养 (shànyǎng) - To support one's parents. A more formal and legalistic term for the duty of providing for one's parents, often used in legal documents concerning 养老 obligations.
• 老龄化 (lǎolínghuà) - Population aging. The demographic trend that makes 养老 a critical national issue in China.