work hard; sell one's physical labor
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb phrase
to work hard; to exert one's full effort
informalAlso said as 卖力 (màilì). Used to describe giving full effort in a task, often physical work. Neutral to commendatory tone.
He works very hard, and the boss appreciates him a lot.
For this project, everyone has been putting in extra effort these past few days.
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Don't let his young age fool you; he really throws himself into the work.
verb phrase
to make a living by selling one's physical labor; to work as a manual laborer
informalRefers specifically to earning a livelihood through manual, physical work, often implying a lack of other skills or options. Can carry a neutral or slightly negative connotation about the nature of the work.
In those days, his father supported the whole family by doing manual labor.
He didn't get much education and can only sell his physical labor at construction sites.
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These temporary workers live day by day, purely by selling their physical strength.