# 老气横秋

lǎo qì héng qiū

Seem prematurely old or act with overbearing seniority

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** An old air spreads like autumn

**Traditional Chinese:** 老氣橫秋

**Register:** Critical · literary

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe stale solemnity, lack of youthful vitality, or seniority-based arrogance.

Not a neutral term for being elderly.

## Understanding the expression

Autumn suggests a season past its vigorous beginning, and the expression gives a person an excessively old or heavy manner. It can describe a young person lacking liveliness or someone leaning arrogantly on age and experience. The meaning therefore goes beyond chronological age. A serious manner can be appropriate without being stale. The criticism fits when solemnity or assumed seniority obstructs openness, energy, or respect toward people with less experience.

## Examples

他才二十岁，说话却老气横秋。

### Traditional Chinese

他才二十歲，說話卻老氣橫秋。

tā cái èr shí suì ， shuō huà què lǎo qì héng qiū 。

He is only twenty but sounds prematurely old.

别用老气横秋的口气教训新人。

### Traditional Chinese

別用老氣橫秋的口氣教訓新人。

bié yòng lǎo qì héng qiū de kǒu qì jiào xùn xīn rén 。

Do not lecture newcomers with overbearing seniority.

衣服颜色太暗，让人显得老气横秋。

### Traditional Chinese

衣服顏色太暗，讓人顯得老氣橫秋。

yī fu yán sè tài àn ， ràng rén xiǎn de lǎo qì héng qiū 。

The dark colors make the wearer look prematurely old.

她经验丰富，却毫不老气横秋。

### Traditional Chinese

她經驗豐富，卻毫不老氣橫秋。

tā jīng yàn fēng fù ， què háo bù lǎo qì héng qiū 。

She is experienced without being pompously old-fashioned.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%80%81%E6%B0%A3%E6%A9%AB%E7%A7%8B)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=631&webMd=1&la=0)

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