老公
lǎogōng · HSK 4
husband
👴 老 (old) + 公 (sir/male) = old gentleman, colloquially hubby
老 means old; 公 means male/sir (also seen in 公园 public). Together 老公 literally reads as old-male, used affectionately for husband. Same 公 appears in 老公公 (old grandpa) and historically referred to eunuchs at court.
老 — old man 耂 + 匕 (bent figure)
Originally a pictograph of an elderly person with long hair leaning on a cane. The top 耂 depicts the hair and stooped body, while 匕 at the bottom represents the cane or a bent figure. The core meaning 'old' has remained stable since oracle bone script.
公 — eight 八 + private 厶
Originally an ideograph showing 八 (to divide) over 厶 (private/self), depicting the act of splitting away from selfish interest. The combination came to mean 'public' or 'fair,' the opposite of private. It later extended to senses like 'duke,' 'lord,' and 'grandfather.'