<p>Brief extension:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>老: literally means old, but by adding in front of a pronoun, it produces a sense of intimacy.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Example:</strong></p>
<p>老王 (<em>Mr. Wang</em>, but most likely someone you are famaliar with)</p>
<p>老哥 (<em>buddy</em>)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>铁: literally &quot;iron&quot;, describes a strong relationship.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Example:</strong></p>
<p>铁哥们 (<em>buddy</em>, has a stronger relationship than &quot;老哥&quot;)</p>
<p>巴铁 (some Chinese use this term to describe the relationship between China and Pakistan (巴基斯坦))</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong>
The word is an internet slang derived from Dongbei dialect, so of course you can't find any definition in a formal dictionary.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-09T19:35:59.373Z
2021-08-09T19:35:59.373Z
Alan Zzz
<p>Actually in Northeast China, 老铁 means a secret lover. Later the meaning turned into 'friend'.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-06T06:00:46.583Z
2023-09-06T06:00:46.583Z
赵鹏阳
<p>You can think 老铁 just means &quot;guys&quot; or &quot;buddy&quot;  in english</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-09T10:11:48.867Z
2021-08-09T10:11:48.867Z
love god
<p>more close than guys.</p>
<p>but a little 调侃</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-10T00:51:09.020Z
2021-08-10T00:51:09.020Z
daotian
<p>Means Pakistan and China are Iron Brothers. It’s signifies the relationship between the 2 countries.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-03T17:12:59.773Z
Welcome to [chinese.se]! I'm not sure how Pakistan figures into this ...
Glorfindel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-01T13:45:13.800Z
2022-10-01T13:45:13.800Z
Hasan Ansari
<p>老铁 is a term that originates from Northeastern Mandarin (東北話), and means &quot;bro&quot; or &quot;close friend&quot;. Slang from regional dialects often spill over into mainstream Chinese and get adopted by everyone.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-10T05:13:38.953Z
2021-08-10T05:13:38.953Z
Gary
<p>I found some people call others 老铁. What does this mean? Does it mean friend? I can't find this usage in any dictionaries.</p>

<meaning>
What does 老铁 mean?
# What does 老铁 mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-08-09)

I found some people call others 老铁. What does this mean? Does it mean friend? I can't find this usage in any dictionaries.

**Tags:** meaning


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## 6 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2021-08-10. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

老铁 is a term that originates from Northeastern Mandarin (東北話), and means "bro" or "close friend". Slang from regional dialects often spill over into mainstream Chinese and get adopted by everyone.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2021-08-09. Score: 3

Brief extension:

> 老: literally means old, but by adding in front of a pronoun, it produces a sense of intimacy.

**Example:**

老王 (*Mr. Wang*, but most likely someone you are famaliar with)

老哥 (*buddy*)

> 铁: literally "iron", describes a strong relationship.

**Example:**

铁哥们 (*buddy*, has a stronger relationship than "老哥")

巴铁 (some Chinese use this term to describe the relationship between China and Pakistan (巴基斯坦))

**Note:**
The word is an internet slang derived from Dongbei dialect, so of course you can't find any definition in a formal dictionary.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2023-09-06. Score: 1

Actually in Northeast China, 老铁 means a secret lover. Later the meaning turned into 'friend'.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-08-09. Score: 0

You can think 老铁 just means "guys" or "buddy" in english


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### Answer by username_4 on 2021-08-10. Score: 0

more close than guys.

but a little 调侃


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### Answer by username_5 on 2022-10-01. Score: -1

Means Pakistan and China are Iron Brothers. It’s signifies the relationship between the 2 countries.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: Welcome to [chinese.se]! I'm not sure how Pakistan figures into this ...  

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