労 means “labor, toil”

ろう · rou

Also: thank for, reward for

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ろうする, いたわる, いたずき, ねぎら, つかれる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ロウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 7 strokes

The story

The older form 勞 sets two fires (火) above a cover (冖) and strength (力): picture work going on by lamplight long after dark. 労 is effort that wears you down, and Japan honors it every November 23 on 勤労感謝の日, Labor Thanksgiving Day.

Used in 苦労 (kurou, hardship), 労働 (roudou, labor), and 疲労 (hirou, fatigue)

More from At the Office

• 号 number
• 具 tool
• 勤 work for
• 部 part
• 約 promise
• 務 duty
• 機 machine
• 予 beforehand
• 件 matter
• 任 entrust
• 係 person in charge
• 局 bureau

Learn 労 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.