This connotation does not apply outside of the People's Republic of China. Note: when combined with other words, the character 老 ( lǎo 'old') does not always refer to age for example, it is used in the terms 老公 ( lǎogōng 'husband'), 老婆 ( lǎopó 'wife'), 老鼠 ( lǎoshǔ 'mouse'), 老虎 ( lǎohǔ 'tiger'), 老外 ( lǎowài 'foreigner'), including for important persons such as 老板 ( lǎobǎn 'boss') or 老师 ( lǎoshī 'master / teacher').
