keoi4劬

Jyutpingkeoi4

Yalekèuih

Definition

Toil, labor, or laborious work.

writtenworkdescriptions

How it's used

This character is primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe physical or mental exhaustion from hard work. While it appears in the classical idiom 劬勞, it is rarely used in casual daily speech, where speakers prefer 辛苦 or 勞碌. Using it in conversation can sound overly dramatic or archaic, often reserved for written reflections or poetic descriptions of parental sacrifice.

Examples

keoi5佢wai6為zo2咗joeng5養daai6大zai2仔neoi2女zan1真hai6係hou2好keoi4劬。

They really toiled hard to raise their children.

zou6做le1呢fan2份gung1工gam3咁keoi4劬，bat1不jyu4如zyun3轉gung1工laa1啦。

This job is so laborious, why not change jobs?

Common phrases

keoi4劬lou4勞

toil and labor

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 勞, which is a much more common and versatile character for work and fatigue. Avoid using 劬 in everyday casual settings, as it will sound unnatural or like you are reciting a classical text.