# 倚老卖老

yǐ lǎo mài lǎo

Use seniority to dominate or belittle others

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Rely on age and sell one's seniority

**Traditional Chinese:** 倚老賣老

**Register:** Critical · general

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

## When to use it

Criticize demanding authority solely because of age or experience.

Respecting expertise is different from automatic deference to age.

## Understanding the expression

Age and experience can provide insight, but the expression describes treating them as a claim to unquestioned authority. Someone may dismiss a younger person's evidence or demand privileges without considering fairness. The criticism targets entitlement rather than old age itself. Experienced people can guide others generously without invoking rank. A useful sentence shows how seniority is used to block discussion or impose an unreasonable demand, making the distinction from legitimate expertise clear.

## Examples

他倚老卖老，不许新人提意见。

### Traditional Chinese

他倚老賣老，不許新人提意見。

tā yǐ lǎo mài lǎo ， bù xǔ xīn rén tí yì jiàn 。

He uses seniority to silence newcomers.

奶奶经验丰富，却从不倚老卖老。

### Traditional Chinese

奶奶經驗豐富，卻從不倚老賣老。

nǎi nai jīng yàn fēng fù ， què cóng bù yǐ lǎo mài lǎo 。

Grandma is experienced but never flaunts seniority.

讨论要看证据，别倚老卖老。

### Traditional Chinese

討論要看證據，別倚老賣老。

tǎo lùn yào kàn zhèng jù ， bié yǐ lǎo mài lǎo 。

Discussion needs evidence rather than appeals to seniority.

那位员工倚老卖老，拒绝遵守新规则。

### Traditional Chinese

那位員工倚老賣老，拒絕遵守新規則。

nà wèi yuán gōng yǐ lǎo mài lǎo ， jù jué zūn shǒu xīn guī zé 。

The employee invokes seniority to reject new rules.

## 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=%E5%80%9A%E8%80%81%E8%B3%A3%E8%80%81)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=687&webMd=1&la=0)

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