toil; labor; parental hardship
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadjective
toil; labor; hardship; fatigue
literaryOriginally from the Classic of Poetry (《诗经·小雅·蓼莪》): '哀哀父母，生我劬劳' (Alas, my parents, who bore me with such toil). Often specifically refers to the hardship of parents (especially mothers) in giving birth to and raising children.
Tā他
bù不
cí辞
qú劬
láo劳
，
rì日
yè夜
gōng工
zuò作
。
He worked day and night without shunning the toil.
Āi哀
āi哀
fù父
mǔ母
，
shēng生
wǒ我
qú劬
láo劳
。
Alas, my parents, who gave me birth with such toil.
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Wǒ我
men们
yào要
bào报
dá答
fù父
mǔ母
de的
qú劬
láo劳
zhī之
ēn恩
。
We should repay the grace of our parents' hard toil.