多劳多得

• Pinyin: duō láo duō dé
• Hanzi breakdown: 多 = more/greater; 劳 = 力 (strength) + 荧 (toil) — exertion; 得 = 彳 + 旦 + 寸 — to obtain; the phrase mirrors its own structure: more effort → more reward

Meaning

The more you work, the more you earn; a principle that rewards and compensation should be proportional to the amount of effort or work contributed.

A core principle of socialist distribution theory in China, officially enshrined in reform-era policy as part of 按劳分配 (distribution according to work). Also widely used in workplace incentive systems, piecework pay structures, and motivational contexts. The phrase reflects a meritocratic value of effort-based reward and is often contrasted with 平均主义 (egalitarianism/equal shares regardless of effort).

Examples

1. 工厂推行计件工资制度，真正实现了多劳多得，有效激发了工人的生产积极性。 The factory introduced a piece-rate pay system, truly making it so the more you work, the more you earn, effectively boosting workers’ motivation.
2. 绩效考核制度的核心理念是多劳多得，能者多劳，打破了过去论资排辈的分配方式。 The core idea of the performance evaluation system is that the more you contribute, the more you earn—and those who are capable take on more—breaking the old approach of distributing rewards by seniority.
3. 他相信多劳多得的原则，每天都比同事早到晚走，业绩自然名列前茅。 He believes in the principle that the more you work, the more you earn, so he arrives earlier and leaves later than his coworkers every day; naturally, his performance ranks near the top.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, economics, policy, motivation

Tone: principled

Do Say

• 在市场化薪酬体系中，多劳多得原则有助于打破大锅饭现象，使薪酬分配更加公平合理。(In a marketised compensation system, the principle of more work more pay helps break the egalitarian 'big pot' mentality and makes pay distribution more fair and reasonable.)
• 公司新推出的提成制度坚持多劳多得，让有能力、肯付出的员工真正看到了努力的价值。(The company's newly launched commission system adheres to the principle of more work more pay, allowing capable and diligent employees to truly see the value of their effort.)

Don't Say

• 他多劳多得地吃饭 — 多劳多得 is a workplace/economic principle, not a general pattern of behaviour; it should not be applied to eating or personal habits

Origin & History

多劳 (more work/labour) + 多得 (more gain/receive) — a four-character idiom-style principle: proportional reward for proportional effort

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal