worker; laborer; manual worker
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
worker; laborer; employee
formalCommonly used in formal, legal, or political contexts referring to the workforce or labor rights. In Taiwan, it is the standard term for 'worker'.
The government should protect the basic rights of workers.
This factory employs three hundred workers.
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The International Labour Organization is dedicated to improving working conditions worldwide.
noun
coolie; unskilled laborer doing hard physical work
archaicHistorically refers to forced or exploitative manual labor, often carrying a negative connotation. This usage is largely archaic in modern standard Chinese.
In the nineteenth century, many Chinese coolies were trafficked to America to build railways.
These coolies worked more than twelve hours every day.
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In the old days, coolies held an extremely low status with no protection of rights.