劳 láo — labor, toil · English

劳

láo

labor, toil

At a glance · 劳

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从力熒省声，形声字，本指勤苦、费力。隶楷作「勞」，简化作「劳」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「劳」本指用力勤苦，引申为劳动、慰劳。

Structure

形声字，力为意符，熒（荧）省为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinláo

Radical力

Strokes8

UnicodeU+52B3

Character type形声

Theme德行

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English labor, toil Labor, toil, hard work; to reward.

Français travail, peine Travail, peine, effort; récompenser.

Español trabajo, fatiga Trabajo, fatiga, esfuerzo; recompensar.

العربية عمل، تعب عمل أو تعب أو يكافئ.

Русский труд, усердие Труд, тяжёлый труд; награждать за труды.

Common words

劳动láo dònglabor
劳láotired

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