Chinese word

劳动力

Pronunciation

Pinyinláo dòng lì

Meaning

  • nounworkforce

Example

公司需要更多劳动力来完成项目。gōng sī xū yào gèng duō láo dòng lì lái wán chéng xiàng mù

The company needs more workers to complete the project.

Illustration for 劳动力 (workforce)

More examples

技术进步可能减少对劳动力的需求。jì shù jìn bù kě néng jián shǎo duì láo dòng lì de xū qiú

Technological progress may reduce demand for labor.

Core concept

People available for work together with the productive effort they can provide.

Common phrases

  • 劳动力短缺láo dòng lì duǎn quē

    labor shortage

  • 劳动力供给láo dòng lì gōng jǐ

    labor supply

  • 高素质的劳动力gāo sù zhì dì láo dòng lì

    highly skilled workforce

Similar words

员工yuán gōng: A person who works for a company or other organization.
工人gōng rén: A person who does physical work, especially in a factory or on a construction site.
人手rén shǒu: The number of workers available to carry out a task.
人力rén lì: The people and human effort available for a task or purpose.

Definition in Chinese

可用于生产或提供服务、能够从事劳动的人员数量及其所能提供的劳动能力的总和。kě yòng yú shēng chǎn huò tí gōng fú wù néng gòu cóng shì láo dòng de rén yuán shù liàng jí qí suǒ néng tí gōng de láo dòng néng lì de zǒng hé

Word origin

劳动力 (láodònglì, "workforce") is formed from 劳 (láo, "labor") + 动 (dòng, "move") + 力 (lì, "force"), combining work with the force behind it.

Usage tips

  • For everyday Chinese, this word sounds more collective and abstract than a term for a single worker, which makes it useful when discussing staffing needs in general rather than naming a person.

Other meanings

  • working populationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 劳动力成本láo dòng lì chéng běnlabor costnoun
  • 劳动力结构láo dòng lì jié gòulabor structurenoun

Word lists with this word