Chinese word

操劳

Pronunciation

Pinyincāo láo

Meaning

  • verbwork hard

Example

为家人操劳的往往是母亲。wèi jiā rén cāo láo de wáng wǎng shì mǔ qīn

It is often the mother who works hard for the family.

Illustration for 操劳 (work hard)

More examples

他为了赶项目，连续几个星期日夜操劳。tā wèi le gǎn xiàng mù lián xù jǐ gè xīng qī rì yè cāo láo

He worked hard day and night for several weeks to finish the project.

Core concept

Carrying a responsibility through sustained effort until both body and mind feel the strain.

Common phrases

  • 为家人操劳wèi jiā rén cāo láo

    work hard for one's family

  • 日夜操劳rì yè cāo láo

    work hard day and night

  • 为生活操劳wéi shēng huó cāo láo

    work hard to make a living

Similar words

照顾zhào gù: Care for someone, such as a child or patient, by helping with daily needs.
操心cāo xīn: Take pains over a person or matter and stay alert to prevent problems.
照料zhào liào: Attend to a sick or older person's daily needs and required care.

Definition in Chinese

为他人或事务操持、劳作而感到辛苦，既有体力劳动的疲惫也有精神上的操心。wèi tā rén huò shì wù cāo chí láo zuò ér gǎn dào xīn kǔ jì yǒu tǐ lì láo dòng de pí bèi yě yǒu jīng shén shàng de cāo xīn

Word origin

操 (cāo, "handle") + 劳 (láo, "toil") combines managing a responsibility with the hardship that the work brings.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this verb often appears in appreciative remarks about a person's long effort for others, so it sounds warmer and more personal than a neutral report of work.

Other meanings

  • take painsverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word