1.
heavy labor; hard physical work
Physically demanding or exhausting work. Can also be used figuratively for mentally taxing work that feels overwhelming.
引っ越しは重労働だ。
Moving house is hard labor.
毎日重労働で体がボロボロだ。
My body is falling apart from heavy labor every day.
介護の仕事は精神的にも肉体的にも重労働だと言われている。
Caregiving work is said to be hard labor both mentally and physically.
USAGE:
Can describe literal heavy physical work or be used figuratively for any extremely demanding task. Often used emphatically in everyday conversation.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 重労働を強いられる (to be forced into hard labor)
- 重労働に耐える (to endure hard labor)
- 肉体的な重労働 (physically demanding labor)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 肉体労働: physical labor — emphasizes it being bodily work, not necessarily exhausting
- 過重労働: overwork — excessive work hours, a social issue in Japan