古人and老人

[Andy-Ru]

Do古人and老人both mean the same thing?

Thanks

Andy

[againstwind]

They are different.

古人 generally refers to the ancients, people who lived in times long past.

e.g.

古人的生活跟我们现在的生活有什么不同？

你真的以为古人很笨吗？！

老人 generally refers to elders, who are greater than anothers in age. In China, traditionally, people over 60 years old are 老人.

e.g.

我们应该尊敬老人。

[semantic nuance]

古人已經死了. 老人可能還活著.

古人 means ancient people who was already dead while 老人 means elder people who may be still alive.

Hope it helps!