1.
hardship; toil; suffering
Physical or mental suffering caused by hard work or difficult circumstances. A somewhat literary or formal word emphasizing the burden of effort.
長年の労苦が報われた。
Years of hardship were rewarded.
親の労苦を知らずに育った。
I grew up without knowing my parents' hardships.
多くの労苦を乗り越えて、ようやく事業を成功させた。
After overcoming many hardships, I finally made the business a success.
労苦 combines 労 (labor) and 苦 (suffering), making it more emphatic than 苦労.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 苦労 — hardship, trouble (common, everyday word)
- 労苦 — hardship, toil (more literary, emphasizes the weight of effort)
- 辛苦 — suffering, affliction (formal, written)
労苦 is often used in contexts where someone has endured sustained effort or difficulty, particularly when acknowledging or honoring that effort.