beast of burden; overworked laborer
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
a beast of burden; a person forced into hard labor for a living
derogatoryA metaphor with a strong negative connotation, highlighting oppression and exploitation. Often used to describe a life of endless toil without dignity or reward.
Zài在
jiù旧
shè社
huì会
，
hěn很
duō多
nóng农
mín民
guò过
zhe着
niú牛
mǎ马
bù不
rú如
de的
shēng生
huó活
。
In the old society, many peasants lived a life worse than that of a beast of burden.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
yǎng养
jiā家
hú糊
kǒu口
，
xiàng像
niú牛
mǎ马
yī一
yàng样
xīn辛
kǔ苦
gōng工
zuò作
。
To support his family, he works as hard as an ox.
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Zhè这
fèn份
gōng工
zuò作
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
bǎ把
rén人
dàng当
niú牛
mǎ马
shǐ使
huàn唤
。
This job basically treats people like beasts of burden.
Bié别
zài再
dāng当
zī资
běn本
jiā家
de的
niú牛
mǎ马
le了
，
yào要
wèi为
zì自
jǐ己
ér而
huó活
。
Stop being a beast of burden for capitalists; live for yourself.