苦力

• Pinyin: kǔ lì
• Desglose de hanzi: 苦 = 艹 (grass) + 古 (old) — bitter; 力 = strength

Significado

Bracero/peón; trabajo físico duro.

Historically referred to Chinese laborers who did heavy manual work, often under exploitative conditions. Today used more generally for hard physical labor or self-deprecatingly by those doing tough jobs.

Ejemplos

1. 在旧社会，码头上的苦力过着非常艰辛的生活。
2. 搬家那天，我一个人当了一天苦力。
3. 他开玩笑说自己在公司就是个干苦力的。

Guía de uso

Contexto: labor, self-deprecation, history

Tono: informal

Correcto

• 今天干了一天苦力活。(I did manual labor all day today.)
• 别把我当苦力使唤。(Don't order me around like a laborer.)

Incorrecto

• 用苦力侮辱别人的职业。(Don't use 苦力 to insult someone's profession — it can be condescending; use it self-deprecatingly or historically)

Origen e historia

Compound of 苦 (bitter/hard) + 力 (strength/labor). The English 'coolie' derives from this word.

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Working class