‘老伶’ (lǎo líng) is a respectful, somewhat literary term for a veteran performer—especially in traditional Chinese opera or classical performing arts. The character 老 (lǎo) means ‘old’ or ‘senior’, conveying experience, mastery, and venerable status; 伶 (líng) historically refers to actors, musicians, or entertainers, originating from ancient court performers. Together, 老伶 emphasizes not just age but deep expertise, artistic authority, and decades of stage practice.

This term is rarely used in casual speech or modern pop culture—it appears mainly in formal writing, historical narratives, opera criticism, or tribute contexts. It carries a tone of admiration and cultural reverence, similar to calling someone a ‘living legend’ in English. While it literally contains ‘old’, it’s not ageist; rather, it honors longevity in craft. You’ll encounter it more often in articles about Peking opera masters or documentaries on intangible cultural heritage than in everyday conversation.