劳 láo to labor

源How it came to be

Two fires burning over a roof, with the power block underneath. That is the full form: somebody still working by lamplight after dark. The lamps make it labour rather than work.

用How it is used

• Bound root for physical effort/labor: 劳动 láodòng "(manual) labor, work", 疲劳 píláo "fatigue", 勤劳 qínláo "hardworking" (of manual work specifically).
• 劳驾 láojià "excuse me, would you mind" is a classic polite formula for asking a stranger for a small favor, e.g. 劳驾,借过一下 (láojià, jiè guò yíxià) - "excuse me, coming through" - distinct from 劳动/劳累 in being a fixed courtesy phrase.
• 劳累 láolèi "tired out (from work)" describes exhaustion from sustained effort, more so than general tiredness.

字Characters built with 劳

• 唠 to chat
• 捞 to dredge up
• 涝 to inundate

词Words with 劳

• 劳动láodòngworkHSK 5
• 劳动力láodònglìlabor forceHSK 6
• 勤劳qínláohardworkingHSK 6
• 疲劳píláofatigueHSK 6
• 功劳gōngláocontributionHSK 8
• 劳务láowùservice (work done for money)HSK 8
• 劳累láolèitiredHSK 8
• 劳驾láojiàexcuse meHSK 8
• 徒劳túláofutileHSK 8
• 慰劳wèiláoto show appreciationHSK 8
• 操劳cāoláoto work hardHSK 8
• 汗马功劳hànmǎ-gōngláowar exploitsHSK 9

句Example sentences

• 多劳动对身体有好处。 Duō láodòng duì shēntǐ yǒu hǎochù.It's good for one's health to do manual labor.