Labor

Pronunciation:ˈleɪbər
EN→ZH

Quick Translations

  • 劳动
  • 劳工
  • 工作

Definitions

noun

Definition

Physical or mental work done to accomplish a task or produce something.

In ZH

为完成某项任务或生产某物而进行的体力或脑力劳动。

Examples

  • As the news reported, the workers at the chocolate factory protested for shorter labor hours, but all they got was a lifetime supply of chocolate bars!
  • In today's world, some people argue that labor is just an elaborate way of getting money to pay for their Netflix subscription.
  • Last week, the city council decided to appreciate labor by giving pizza to everyone who showed up for trash clean-up, proving that sometimes hard work is just a 'slice' above!

Cultural Notes

In many cultures, hard work is highly valued, and labor unions often advocate for workers' rights. Labor Day is celebrated in various countries with parades and events.

verb

Definition

To work hard, particularly in a physical sense; to engage in work that requires effort.

In ZH

努力工作，特别是以体力劳动的形式；从事需要努力的工作。

Examples

  • She decided to labor over her garden, hoping to grow a vegetable empire that could compete with the local grocery store, but all she got was a jungle of weeds!
  • He labored on his robot project so long that his friends joked he might soon create a robot that would labor for him, but it would probably just sulk around the house.
  • After laboring for hours to fix the car, he realized the issue was simply a low tire, so he decided to labor on the couch with his favorite snacks instead.

Cultural Notes

Labor as a verb often refers to physical work, but in some contexts, it can refer to the effort put into intellectual work as well.