劳 meaning and stroke order
To labor, to toil; to do manual work
How to write 劳, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 7
Meaning of 劳
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to toil; labor
- (bound form) laborer
- (bound form) meritorious deed
- (bound form) fatigue
- to put sb to the trouble (of doing sth)
- (bound form) to express appreciation for sb's efforts (Taiwan pr. [lao4])
How 劳 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A man lifting 力 a load 冖 of grass 艹.
Radical: 力 (strength), shared by 44 characters on this site.
How to remember 劳
Picture a person using strength 力 (lì) to lift a load 冖 piled with grass 艹. Hauling heavy bundles all day is what 劳 (láo) means: hard work and the tiredness that comes with it.
劳 rarely stands alone and usually appears in words like 劳动 (láodòng, labor), 疲劳 (píláo, fatigue) and 勤劳 (qínláo, hardworking). It also appears in polite phrases that ask someone for help. Example: 劳驾，请让一下。(Láojià, qǐng ràng yíxià.) Excuse me, please let me through.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 劳 with 营 (yíng) and 荣 (róng), which share the same 艹 and 冖 top. Look at the bottom part: only 劳 has 力 (strength). Also keep the second tone láo, not lǎo as in 老.
Common words with 劳
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 劳动 | láodòng | work; toil | HSK 5 |
| 功劳 | gōngláo | contribution; meritorious service | HSK 7-9 |
| 疲劳 | píláo | fatigue; wearily | HSK 7-9 |
| 劳累 | láolèi | tired; exhausted | HSK 7-9 |
| 勤劳 | qínláo | hardworking; industrious; diligent | HSK 7-9 |
| 劳动力 | láodònglì | labor force; manpower | HSK 7-9 |
| 操劳 | cāoláo | to work hard; to look after | HSK 7-9 |
| 劳务 | láowù | service (work done for money); services (as in "goods and services") | HSK 7-9 |
| 慰劳 | wèiláo | to show appreciation (by kind words, small gifts etc); to comfort | HSK 7-9 |
| 多劳多得 | duōláo-duōdé | work more and get more | HSK 7-9 |
| 效劳 | xiàoláo | to serve (in some capacity); to work for | |
| 劳驾 | láojià | excuse me | |
| 酬劳 | chóuláo | reward | |
| 劳工 | láogōng | labor; laborer |
劳 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 劳
Learning 劳 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 劳
How many strokes are in 劳?
劳 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 劳 mean?
劳 (láo) means to labor, to toil; to do manual work. A common word with it is 劳动 (láodòng), meaning "work; toil".
How do you pronounce 劳?
劳 is pronounced láo, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 劳?
The radical of 劳 is 力, which carries the idea of "strength". Dictionaries list 劳 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 劳?
The traditional form of 劳 is 勞. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 劳 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 劳 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 劳 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What does 劳驾 (láojià) mean and when do I use it?
劳驾 is a polite way to say "excuse me" or "may I trouble you" when you ask someone for a small favor, such as moving aside or passing something. It is especially common in northern China.
What is the difference between 劳动 (láodòng) and 工作 (gōngzuò)?
工作 is the everyday word for a job or for working. 劳动 sounds more formal and often means physical labor or labor in a social or economic sense, as in 劳动节 (Láodòng Jié, Labor Day).