exchange labor; swap work
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to exchange labor; for farmers to swap work with each other
neutralA traditional cooperative practice in rural Chinese agriculture, especially before widespread mechanization. It's based on mutual benefit and reciprocity.
Nóng农
máng忙
shí时
，
cūn村
mín民
men们
jīng经
cháng常
huàn换
gōng工
，
hù互
xiāng相
bāng帮
máng忙
shōu收
gē割
。
During the busy farming season, villagers often exchange labor to help each other with the harvest.
Wǒ我
jiā家
hé和
nǐ你
jiā家
huàn换
gōng工
ba吧
，
jīn今
tiān天
wǒ我
bāng帮
nǐ你
chā插
yāng秧
，
míng明
tiān天
nǐ你
bāng帮
wǒ我
chú锄
dì地
。
Let's exchange labor; today I'll help you transplant rice seedlings, and tomorrow you'll help me hoe the field.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
huàn换
gōng工
de的
chuán传
tǒng统
jiā加
qiáng强
le了
lín邻
lǐ里
zhī之
jiān间
de的
guān关
xì系
。
This tradition of labor exchange strengthens relationships between neighbors.
Xiàn现
zài在
jī机
xiè械
huà化
le了
，
huàn换
gōng工
de的
xiàn现
xiàng象
bǐ比
yǐ以
qián前
shǎo少
duō多
le了
。
With mechanization now, the practice of labor exchange is much less common than before.