労働

• Reading: ろうどう
• Romaji: roudou
• Kanji breakdown: 労 (rō) — toil, labour; 働 (dō) — work
• Pronunciation: /ɾoː.doː/

Meaning

Labour; work. Physical or mental exertion performed as employment or duty.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (労働する). A formal term for work, especially in legal and social contexts. Key compounds include 労働者 (worker/labourer), 労働時間 (working hours), 労働組合 (labour union), and 厚生労働省 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). More formal and institutional than 仕事 (work).

Examples

1. 日本では労働時間が長いと言われている。 Japan is known for its long working hours.
2. 肉体労働は体力が必要だ。 Physical labor requires stamina.
3. 労働者の権利を守ることが大切だ。 It's important to protect workers' rights.

Usage Guide

Context: society, legal, economics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 労 (rō, toil/labour) and 働 (dō, work). The kanji 労 shows a person toiling over a fire, and 働 combines 人 (person) and 動 (move) — a person exerting themselves.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal