勞 (láo) - Labor, toil, work & to exert oneself

勞Tone 2

láo ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

勞 · láo

Labor, toil, work;

to exert oneself;

to trouble someone;

merit, service;

industrious, diligent.

Labor, toil, workto exert oneselfto trouble someone

Usage highlights

LaborHardworkingMeritorious serviceTo trouble someoneFatigueLabor union

Synonyms

  • 勤— diligent, industrious
  • 作— work, labor
  • 功— merit, achievement

Antonyms

  • 逸— ease, leisure
  • 懒— lazy

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He works hard every day (他每天勤劳工作).
  • Thank you for your trouble (劳驾).
  • The workers are on strike (工人罢工).
  • This is a labor-intensive industry (这是一个劳动密集型产业).

Collocations

  • Labor(劳动)
  • Hardworking(勤劳)
  • Meritorious service(功劳)
  • To trouble someone(劳驾)
  • Fatigue(疲劳)
  • Labor union(工会)

Idioms

  • Toil without merit(劳而无功)
  • Hard work leads to success(勤劳致富)
  • Unable to distinguish between the public and private sector(不辨菽麦, variant: 五谷不分，四体不勤)
  • The laboring people are the most honorable(劳动人民最光荣)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Confucian society, diligence and hard work (劳) were highly valued virtues.
  • The character is historically associated with physical toil and the laboring classes.
  • In modern China, the term is central to concepts of workers' rights and Labor Day (劳动节).

FAQ