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劳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
劳
láo
toil
vn, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
láo
to console
vn, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
láo
to labor, to toil; to do manual work
vn, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
láo
labor
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
láo
laborer
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
láo
to put sb to trouble (of doing sth)
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
láo
meritorious deed
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
lào
toil
vn, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
lào
to console
vn, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
lào
to labor, to toil; to do manual work
vn, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
lào
labor
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
lào
laborer
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
lào
to put sb to trouble (of doing sth)
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
劳
lào
meritorious deed
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 力, rank #6101, Hard
láo(lao2)lao
primary
T2
1toil
2to console
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
劳(勞)láo(lao2)
The character 劳 (láo) refers to labor, toil, or hard work. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical or manual labor, as well as in phrases related to working diligently or putting someone to trouble. The character also carries the nuance of effort and the value of hard work in Chinese culture.
Strokes7Radical力Frequency#6101DifficultyHard
Cultural note
The concept of 劳 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, where hard work is often associated with virtue and merit. In historical contexts, labor was viewed as honorable, contributing to the collectivist ethos prevalent in Chinese society.
Memory tip
Imagine a worker (劳) toiling under the sun, with the character resembling a person bent over, engaged in labor. The '工' component signifies work, while the '劳' suggests effort, connecting both the visual and phonetic aspects to its meaning.
Meanings of 劳
láo(lao2)
primary
1toil
2to console
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 劳 means.
About 劳
劳Simplified
勞Traditional
7Strokes
力Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#6101Frequency Rank
Podcast: 劳
Podcast: 劳
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AI study notes for 劳
Quick Contrast
辛苦 (xīnkǔ) vs 劳 (láo): Use 辛苦 when emphasizing the hardship or difficulty of the work, while 劳 focuses more on the act of labor itself.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. 劳 is often used in formal contexts, so it’s essential to pair it with the correct verbs or nouns, such as 劳动 (labor) or 劳工 (laborer). A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
While 劳 is not in the official HSK levels, it connects well with HSK 3 vocabulary related to work and effort, such as 工作 (gōngzuò - work) and 努力 (nǔlì - to strive). Students should focus on understanding its usage in compound words to enhance their vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 劳 by incorrectly pairing it with verbs that do not convey effort, such as saying 劳看 (to labor see) instead of 劳作 (to labor). Always ensure that it is used with contextually appropriate verbs.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 劳
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Example
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Knowing 劳 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 劳 (láo) refers to labor, toil, or hard work. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical or manual labor, as well as in phrases related to working diligently or putting someone to trouble. The character also carries the nuance of effort and the value of hard work in Chinese culture.
When to use 劳
Be mindful of the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. 劳 is often used in formal contexts, so it’s essential to pair it with the correct verbs or nouns, such as 劳动 (labor) or 劳工 (laborer). A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
劳 or something close to it
辛苦 (xīnkǔ) vs 劳 (láo): Use 辛苦 when emphasizing the hardship or difficulty of the work, while 劳 focuses more on the act of labor itself.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 劳 by incorrectly pairing it with verbs that do not convey effort, such as saying 劳看 (to labor see) instead of 劳作 (to labor). Always ensure that it is used with contextually appropriate verbs.
Write 劳
劳
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Practice writing 劳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 劳
劳 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
“我要走，离开他。”____拉·斯特宾停了下来，眼里闪烁着光芒。
"I shall go, leave him." Laura Stebbing stopped, her eyes glistening.
A million young people enter the labour market each year.
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Word Family of 劳
Compounds7
捞lāoto fish up
唠láoto chatter
痨láotuberculosis
涝làoto inundate, to flood; torrent
崂láoLaoshan, a mountain in Shandong
铹láolawrencium
耢làoa kind of farm tool
Words containing this character20
劳动láodòngwork勞動
效劳xiàoláoto work for效勞
劳láoto toil勞
劳动力láodònglìlabor force勞動力
疲劳píláofatigue疲勞
功劳gōngláocontribution功勞
劳驾láojiàexcuse me勞駕
麦当劳màidāngláoMacDonald or McDonald (name)麥當勞
劳动者láodòngzhěworker勞動者
劳伦斯láolúnsīLawrence (person name)勞倫斯
劳力láolìlabor勞力
劳工láogōnglabor勞工
劳务láowùservice (work done for money)勞務
克劳斯kèláosīClaus or Klaus (name)克勞斯
劳累láolèitired勞累
徒劳túláofutile徒勞
酬劳chóuláoreward酬勞
勤劳qínláohardworking勤勞
劳资láozīlabor and capital勞資
劳作láozuòwork勞作
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 劳
What does 捞 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 劳
劳 (láo) emphasizes the effort or toil involved in labor, whereas 工作 (gōngzuò) generally refers to work or a job in a broader sense. 劳 often carries a connotation of physical labor, while 工作 can include mental tasks as well.
Yes, 劳 can be found in idiomatic expressions such as '劳心劳力' (to exert both mental and physical effort), highlighting the extensive involvement in tasks or responsibilities. It's also used in various phrases to convey the notion of hard work.
劳 (láo) means to toil or labor and can refer to a laborer as well. It is also used in contexts where someone is put to trouble or when referring to a meritorious deed. Additionally, it can imply an act of consolation.
You can use 劳 in sentences like '我劳作了一整天' (I toiled all day) or '他是一个勤劳的农民' (He is a hardworking farmer). It can also be used to express concern, such as '不要劳烦你' (Don't trouble yourself).
Common phrases include 劳动 (labor) and 劳动者 (laborer), which emphasize the act of working and the people who do it.
While 劳 can be used in both contexts, it is more frequently found in formal language, especially in written texts.
Yes, expressions like 劳心 (to worry) and 劳力 (to exert effort) highlight its versatile use in describing both mental and physical labor.
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