功労

• Reading: こうろう
• Romaji: kourou
• Kanji breakdown: 功 (kou) — merit, achievement; 労 (rou) — labour, effort
• Pronunciation: /ko.ː.ɾo.ː/

Meaning

Meritorious service; distinguished contribution. Exceptional achievement or effort in service of an organisation, cause, or nation.

Used to acknowledge long-standing or significant contributions, often in formal recognition contexts: 功労賞 (kourou-shō, award for distinguished service), 功労者 (kourou-sha, person of great merit). The term is more formal and weightier than 功績 (kouseki, achievement/accomplishment) and typically implies sustained dedication over time rather than a single achievement.

Examples

1. 長年にわたり地域の発展に尽くした功労者が、市から表彰を受けた。 A person of distinguished service who had devoted themselves to the development of the local community for many years was commended by the city.
2. 彼女の研究は、この分野の発展に多大な功労をもたらしたと評価されている。 Her research has been recognised as having made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of this field.
3. 功労のある社員には定年後も顧問として関与してもらう慣例がある。 It is customary for employees with distinguished service to remain involved as advisers even after retirement.

Usage Guide

Context: recognition, organisations, government, corporate

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound of 功 (kou, achievement, merit) and 労 (rou, labour, effort, toil). Together they describe efforts that produced notable results, particularly in service contexts where dedication over time is valued.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal