WebAug 10, 2021 · 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")