徭 (yáo) - Corvée labor — refers to forced labor or & also refers to a type of tax in

徭Tone 2

yáo ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

徭 · yáo

Corvée labor — refers to forced labor or conscripted labor imposed by the state in ancient China;

also refers to a type of tax in labor.

Corvée labor — refers to forced labor oralso refers to a type of tax in

Usage highlights

Corvée laborHeavy corvéeCorvée taxMilitary corvéeCorvée exemptionCorvée burden

Synonyms

  • 役— labor service, corvée
  • 劳役— forced labor

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Farmers were conscripted for corvée labor (服徭役).
  • The emperor imposed heavy corvée demands (沉重的徭役).
  • Corvée labor was a major burden on peasants (农民的徭役负担).

Collocations

  • Corvée labor(徭役)
  • Heavy corvée(重徭)
  • Corvée tax(徭赋)
  • Military corvée(兵徭)
  • Corvée exemption(免徭)
  • Corvée burden(徭负)

Idioms

  • Heavy taxes and corvée labor(苛捐杂税, 横征暴敛)
  • To impose heavy corvée and taxes(赋役繁重)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Corvée labor was a fundamental institution in imperial China, requiring peasants to work on state projects like building walls, canals, and palaces.
  • Excessive corvée demands were a common cause of peasant rebellions throughout Chinese history.
  • The character appears in historical texts discussing state governance and the burdens on common people.

FAQ