操劳

操勞

cāoláo

verb HSK 7-9 #23,112

Meanings

1 to work hard; to toil
2 to labor with care and worry

Characters

to handle; to manage

Literally 'to handle labor' - managing burdens and working tirelessly, often with emotional overtones of worry.

Examples

HSK 3

你太操劳了，注意休息。

Nǐ tài cāoláo le, zhùyì xiūxi.

You've been working too hard - make sure to rest.

HSK 6

妈妈为这个家操劳了一辈子。

Māma wèi zhège jiā cāoláo le yíbèizi.

Mom toiled for this family her whole life.

Tips

usage

操劳 carries emotional warmth - it's the word Chinese people use to describe a parent's or elder's selfless hard work for the family. It implies both physical labor and mental worry.

Stroke Order

操 cāo

劳 láo