labor

/ˈleɪ.bər/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈebɚ] /ˈleɪ.bɚ/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈebɚ] /ˈlā-bər/ (ame, mw)

labor — 名詞

  • laborsingular
  • laborsplural

1. hard work, often physical, or the effort needed to finish a difficult task.

1.名詞B2
釋義

勞動；苦工

尤指費力的體力工作或辛苦付出

hard work, often physical, or the effort needed to finish a difficult task.

例句

Years of farm labor had strengthened João's shoulders and hands.

多年農場勞動讓 João 的肩膀和雙手都更結實。

farm labor — physical work done over time

The stone path took two days of labor to repair after the storm.

暴風雨過後，修好那條石子路花了兩天的苦工。

days of labor — time spent on hard work

同義詞
  • work

    the broad everyday term; 'labor' sounds more formal and more effort-focused.

  • toil

    stronger and more negative; it suggests tiring, unpleasant work.

  • effort

    focuses on the energy used, not on the work itself as an activity.

反義詞
  • rest

    the opposite state of not working or not making effort.

  • leisure

    time free from work, especially for enjoyment.

文法句型

manual labor

hours of labor

labor of + noun/verb-ing

用法筆記

Often uncountable when you mean work in general. A countable use appears mainly in set expressions or when you are treating one demanding job as a single piece of work.

常見錯誤

❌The job needed many labors.
✅The job needed a lot of labor.
💡When you mean effort in general, 'labor' is usually uncountable.

2. the stage of childbirth when the body is working to deliver a baby.

2.名詞B2
釋義

分娩；產程

生產開始到嬰兒出生的過程

the stage of childbirth when the body is working to deliver a baby.

例句

Élise went into labor shortly after midnight at the hospital.

Élise 在醫院裡過了午夜不久就開始分娩。

go into labor — start childbirth

The nurse said Sari was in labor and should breathe slowly.

護士說 Sari 已經在產程中，應該慢慢呼吸。

be in labor — already giving birth

同義詞
  • childbirth

    the plain everyday term for the process of having a baby.

  • delivery

    often used in medical settings for the birth itself.

文法句型

go into labor

be in labor

labor pains

labor contractions

用法筆記

This sense commonly appears in the fixed phrases 'go into labor' and 'be in labor'. In everyday use, it names the childbirth process rather than ordinary work.

常見錯誤

❌She was on labor all night.
✅She was in labor all night.
💡Use 'in labor' for the childbirth process.

3. workers considered together as the people available to do a company's or area's

3.名詞C1
釋義

勞工

作為整體的受雇工作者

workers considered together as the people available to do a company's or area's work.

例句

Labor in the port is demanding safer equipment this winter.

港口勞工這個冬天正要求更安全的設備。

labor as a collective workforce noun

The company cannot expand without labor from nearby towns.

沒有來自附近城鎮的勞工，這家公司就無法擴張。

labor from + place

同義詞
  • workforce

    a close equivalent, often used in business or government writing.

  • labor force

    more statistical; common in economic reports.

  • workers

    the ordinary plural noun; less abstract than collective 'labor'.

反義詞
  • management

    the people who direct work rather than supply labor.

  • capital

    in economic discussion, money and assets contrasted with labor.

文法句型

skilled labor

cheap labor

labor + in/from + place

用法筆記

Use this sense for workers as the available workforce, not for the unions that speak for them. When the focus is on organizations or political pressure, sense 4 is a better fit.

常見錯誤

❌The labors in the factory want higher pay.
✅The labor in the factory wants higher pay.
💡As a collective workforce noun, 'labor' is usually uncountable.

4. labor unions and the organized groups that speak and act for workers.

4.名詞C1
釋義

工運；工會

代表勞工的工會與運動力量

labor unions and the organized groups that speak and act for workers.

例句

Organized labor opposed the bill that cut sick leave.

有組織的工運反對那項削減病假的法案。

organized labor — unions acting together

The mayor met labor before announcing changes to the bus system.

市長在宣布公車系統變動前先和工會碰面。

meet labor — speak with union leaders

同義詞
  • organized labor

    the fullest and most explicit expression for this sense.

  • the labor movement

    emphasizes the broader political and historical campaign for workers' rights.

  • the unions

    more informal and narrower, focusing on union bodies themselves.

反義詞
  • management

    often the negotiating opposite in labor disputes.

  • business

    a broad opposing side in political or economic reporting.

文法句型

organized labor

labor and management

labor groups

用法筆記

This sense usually appears in political or business reporting. Distinguish it from sense 3, which refers to workers themselves rather than the unions and organizations representing them.

常見錯誤

❌The labor were divided about the strike.
✅Labor was divided about the strike.
💡In this political sense, 'labor' is usually treated as a singular collective noun.

labor — 動詞