劳务

• Pinyin: láo wù
• Hanzi breakdown: 劳 = labor; 务 = 矛 (spear) + 力 (power) — affair/duty

Meaning

Labor services; contracted work. Services involving physical or professional labor.

A formal term for labor services, often used in contracts, outsourcing, and international labor arrangements. Includes 劳务派遣 (labor dispatch), 劳务合同 (service contract), and 劳务输出 (labor export).

Examples

1. 公司与员工签订了劳务合同。 The company signed a service contract with the employee.
2. 这家企业从事劳务派遣业务。 This enterprise is engaged in labor dispatch business.
3. 劳务市场的需求持续增长。 Demand in the labor services market continues to grow.

Usage Guide

Context: employment, contracts, business

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 劳务费用由甲方承担。(Labor costs are borne by Party A.)
• 签订劳务协议前要仔细阅读条款。(Read the terms carefully before signing a service agreement.)

Don't Say

• 用劳务泛指一般的工作。(劳务 is technical/legal — use 工作 for general work)

Origin & History

Compound of 劳 (labor) + 务 (affair/service). Services related to labor.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal