1.
labor, work, toil
Physical or mental exertion for wages or production; work as an economic activity.
八時間労働が基本だ。
An eight-hour workday is the standard.
労働条件を改善する必要がある。
Working conditions need to be improved.
労働条件 = working conditions
肉体労働は体に負担がかかる。
Physical labor puts strain on the body.
肉体労働 = physical/manual labor
USAGE: 労働 refers to work in an economic or social context, often emphasizing the physical or productive aspect of work.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 労働者 (worker, laborer)
- 労働組合 (labor union)
- 労働条件 (working conditions)
- 労働時間 (working hours)
- 肉体労働 (manual labor)
- 頭脳労働 (mental work)
CONTRAST:
- 労働 - labor (economic/social concept)
- 仕事 - work, job (general term)
- 働き - work, labor (more personal/individual)