labor
labor — 名詞
1. the effort, usually physical, that people put into their jobs or tasks, especial
勞動；工作
費力的體力或腦力工作
the effort, usually physical, that people put into their jobs or tasks, especially when it is hard or tiring; something that requires a lot of energy to complete
The road workers were exhausted after a full day of heavy labor in the heat.
築路工人經過一整天的粗重勞動後，在高溫下累得筋疲力竭。
collocation: heavy labor / hard labor
Mira found that farming required more physical labor than she had imagined.
Mira 發現務農所需的體力勞動比她想像的要多得多。
The new machine can do the work of ten people, saving both time and labor.
新機器可以完成十個人的工作量，既省時又省力。
Building the wooden shelves by hand took hours of careful labor.
親手釘裝木架花了好幾個小時的細心勞作。
Romi's labor on the garden project turned the empty yard into a beautiful space.
Romi 在花園工程上的付出，把空置的院子變成了一個美麗的空間。
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives like 'hard,' 'physical,' 'manual,' or 'skilled' to describe the type of effort involved.
常見錯誤
2. a political party that aims to protect the rights and improve the living conditi
工黨
代表勞工權益的政黨
a political party that aims to protect the rights and improve the living conditions of ordinary working people
The Labor Party won the election after promising to raise the minimum wage.
工黨在承諾提高最低工資後贏得了選舉。
proper noun: Labor Party
Voters in the city have supported Labor for more than twenty years.
這個城市的選民支持工黨已超過二十年。
Quan read about the history of the British Labour Party for his politics class.
Quan 為了他的政治課，閱讀了英國工黨的歷史。
Labor proposed new laws to help people who rent their homes.
工黨提出了幫助租屋者的新法律。
- Labour Party
the standard British spelling of the same party
- workers' party
a more generic term for any party representing working-class interests
- Conservative Party
the main centre-right rival party in the UK
用法筆記
In the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries, the party is spelled 'Labour Party' and capitalized. In the US, 'Labor' in this sense refers to the broader labor movement rather than a specific party.
常見錯誤
3. all the people who supply their skills or physical effort to produce goods and s
勞工；勞動力
作為經濟資源的勞動者群體
all the people who supply their skills or physical effort to produce goods and services within an economy, a business, or an industry
The factory hired more labor during the busy season before the holidays.
工廠在假期前的旺季聘請了更多勞工。
collocation: hire labor
Skilled labor is hard to find in small towns where young people move away.
在年輕人都搬離的小鎮上，很難找到技術勞工。
collocation: skilled labor / unskilled labor
The country's labor force has grown as more women have joined the workforce.
隨著更多女性加入勞動力市場，這個國家的勞動人口已經增長。
Nikhil studied the relationship between labor and management at the car company.
Nikhil 研究了這家汽車公司勞資雙方之間的關係。
Changes in technology often reduce the need for unskilled labor in factories.
科技上的變化往往會減少工廠對非技術勞工的需求。
- management
the people who direct and control workers
用法筆記
In economics, 'labor' is one of the three main 'factors of production,' alongside land and capital. When discussing a company's workforce, 'labor' can be paired with 'management' to describe the two main groups in a workplace.
4. the process in which a baby is born, involving regular tightenings of the womb a
分娩
嬰兒出生的生理過程
the process in which a baby is born, involving regular tightenings of the womb and physical effort by the mother over a period of time
Eli was with his wife throughout her labor, holding her hand and encouraging her.
Eli 在妻子整個分娩過程中都陪在她身邊，握著她的手為她打氣。
The nurse said the woman was in labor and needed the delivery room.
護士說那位女士正在生產，需要去產房。
phrase: in labor / go into labor
After twelve hours of labor, the baby was born healthy and crying loudly.
經過十二小時的分娩，嬰兒健康地出生了，大聲哭個不停。
Sari attended a class to learn breathing techniques for labor and delivery.
Sari 上了一堂課，學習分娩和生產時的呼吸技巧。
- childbirth
a broader term covering the whole process of having a baby
- delivery
specifically the final stage when the baby is born
用法筆記
Often paired with 'delivery' ('labor and delivery') to refer to the whole childbirth process. Used without an article: 'She is in labor.'
常見錯誤
labor — 動詞
1. to put a lot of physical or mental effort into a job or activity, especially ove
賣力
付出大量體力或心力工作
to put a lot of physical or mental effort into a job or activity, especially over a long period of time
The volunteers labored all weekend to clean up the park after the storm.
志願者整個週末辛勤勞動，在暴風雨後清理公園。
labor + to-infinitive for purpose
Charlotte labored over her essay late into the night, rewriting each paragraph.
Charlotte 徹夜埋頭苦寫論文，反覆改寫每一個段落。
labor + over + noun (task)
Farmers in the valley labor from sunrise until dusk during the harvest season.
山谷裡的農民在收割季節從日出賣力工作到黃昏。
Joaquín labored on the car engine for hours before finding the problem.
Joaquín 花了幾個小時在汽車引擎上，才找到問題所在。
The team labored under difficult conditions to finish the bridge on time.
團隊在艱困的條件下努力勞動，按時完成了橋樑。
文法句型
labor + at/on/over + noun
labor + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Stronger than 'work' — 'labor' implies that the work requires noticeable effort or is physically/mentally demanding. Often used with a preposition ('at,' 'on,' 'over') to specify the task.
常見錯誤
2. to move slowly and with great effort, especially because of tiredness, injury, o
吃力前行
因疲累或負重而緩慢吃力移動
to move slowly and with great effort, especially because of tiredness, injury, or a heavy load
The old truck labored up the steep hill, smoke rising from its engine.
那輛舊卡車吃力地爬上了陡峭的山坡，引擎冒出縷縷黑煙。
labor + up + [slope]
Sayaka labored through the deep snow, each step sinking to her knee.
Sayaka 在深厚的積雪中艱難前行，每一步都陷到膝蓋處。
labor + through + [obstacle]
With broken shoes, Kemi labored along the rocky path back to the village.
Kemi 穿著破鞋，沿著石頭路吃力地走回村莊。
The injured runner labored across the finish line while the crowd cheered.
受傷的跑者在群眾的歡呼聲中艱難地越過終點線。
文法句型
labor + up/along/through/over + noun
用法筆記
Common with motion prepositions ('up,' 'through,' 'along,' 'across') that describe a difficult path or obstacle. Can describe people, vehicles, or animals.
常見錯誤
3. to be affected by a serious problem, difficulty, or mistaken belief that makes p
苦於
因不利條件或錯誤信念而受苦
to be affected by a serious problem, difficulty, or mistaken belief that makes progress harder
The small company labored under a huge debt that it could not repay.
這家小公司背負著一筆無法償還的巨額債務。
labor + under + [problem/burden]
David labored under the false idea that he had to solve every problem alone.
David 一直懷著一個錯誤的想法，以為所有問題都必須自己一個人解決。
labor + under + [mistaken belief]
Many families in the region labor under the weight of poverty and poor housing.
該地區的許多家庭在貧窮和惡劣住房條件的重壓下苦苦掙扎。
The school labored with outdated books and not enough teachers for the students.
這所學校苦於教科書過時且教師不足。
- suffer
more direct and more common in everyday speech
- struggle with
similar meaning but less formal
- be burdened by
emphasizes the weight of the problem
- thrive
to grow and succeed under good conditions
文法句型
labor + under + noun
labor + with + noun
用法筆記
Typically in formal or written English. 'Labor under a misconception/delusion' is a fixed expression meaning to believe something false.
常見錯誤
4. (of a woman) to experience the process of contractions and physical effort invol
生產
經歷生產過程
(of a woman) to experience the process of contractions and physical effort involved in giving birth to a baby
The doctor said she had been laboring for eight hours and was almost ready.
醫生說她已經生產了八個小時，快要準備好了。
Eve labored through the night with her mother and partner by her side.
Eve 在母親和伴侶的陪伴下，經歷了整晚的分娩過程。
labor + through + [period of time]
Women laboring in the hospital are cared for by experienced nurses and midwives.
在醫院生產的產婦會由經驗豐富的護士和助產士照顧。
Naoko's sister labored for only three hours before the baby arrived safely.
Naoko 的姐姐只花了三個小時就順利生下了寶寶。
- give birth
the more common everyday expression
- be in labor
focuses on being in the process rather than the action itself
用法筆記
Used specifically for the active phase of childbirth. The present participle 'laboring' is common in medical contexts ('laboring mother').
常見錯誤
5. to spend too much time or effort explaining or discussing a small detail, especi
贅述
花過多心力處理細節
to spend too much time or effort explaining or discussing a small detail, especially to the point where it becomes boring or annoying
Ruben kept laboring the point even though everyone had already agreed with him.
即使大家都已經同意他的看法，Ruben 仍然不斷贅述同一點。
fixed phrase: labor the point
The speaker labored his argument for so long that half the audience fell asleep.
演講者翻來覆去地論證他的觀點，以至於一半的聽眾都睡著了。
In her report, Allison labored each minor finding as if it were earth-shattering.
在她的報告中，Allison 把每個小發現都長篇大論，彷彿它們是驚天動地的大事。
The professor tended to labor his explanations, repeating the same idea in different ways.
那位教授傾向於過度解釋他的觀點，用不同的方式重複同一個概念。
文法句型
labor + noun (the point, an argument)
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'the point' ('to labor the point') or with abstract nouns like 'argument' or 'issue.' This is a formal usage and sounds unnatural with concrete objects.
常見錯誤
6. to force a person, animal, or machine to work very hard, often to the point of e
使勞累；壓榨
強迫付出大量勞動
to force a person, animal, or machine to work very hard, often to the point of exhaustion
The old farmer labored his horse from morning until night without a break.
那位老農夫從早到晚不停地使喚他的馬，連休息時間都沒有。
Factory owners in the past often labored their workers for fourteen hours a day.
過去的工廠主常常讓工人每天勞動十四個小時。
transitive: labor + [person/animal]
Christopher refused to labor his employees beyond the legal working hours.
Christopher 拒絕讓員工在法定工作時間之外超時勞動。
The construction company was criticized for laboring its machines without proper maintenance.
這家建築公司因為讓機器超負荷運轉而不進行適當維護而受到批評。
- ease up on
to reduce pressure on someone
- spare
to refrain from making someone work too hard
文法句型
labor + noun phrase
用法筆記
This transitive verb sense is less common in modern English and can sound old-fashioned or formal, especially when referring to people. 'Overwork' or 'work to the bone' are more common alternatives in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
labor — 形容詞
1. relating to work, the activity of working, or the conditions in which people do
勞動
與工作或勞動條件相關的
relating to work, the activity of working, or the conditions in which people do their jobs
The government introduced new labor laws to protect workers from unfair treatment.
政府出台了新的勞動法，保護勞工免受不公平待遇。
collocation: labor law / labor rights
Vinícius attended a conference on labor relations between employers and unions.
Vinícius 參加了一場關於勞資關係的會議。
collocation: labor relations
Labor costs have risen sharply as the minimum wage has increased each year.
隨著最低工資逐年上漲，勞動成本急劇上升。
The report examined labor conditions in garment factories across Southeast Asia.
該報告調查了東南亞成衣廠的勞動條件。
Soraya wrote her thesis on labor movements in twentieth-century Europe.
Soraya 的論文主題是二十世紀歐洲的勞工運動。
- workplace
used as a compound noun to describe physical locations or rules
- employment
focuses on the legal or contractual relationship
用法筆記
Usually placed before a noun to describe something connected to the world of work. Common in news, economics, and business contexts. 'Labour' is the British spelling.
常見錯誤
2. connected with a political party that represents the interests of working people
親勞工
與勞工政黨相關的
connected with a political party that represents the interests of working people, especially the Labour Party
The Labour candidate promised to create more jobs if she was elected.
工黨候選人承諾若當選將創造就業機會。
proper noun: Labour candidate / Labour government
Haruto disagreed with the Labour government's decision to cut education funding.
Haruto 不同意工黨政府削減教育經費的決定。
Labour policies have traditionally focused on public services and workers' rights.
工黨的政策傳統上側重於公共服務和勞工權益。
The newspaper supports the Labour view on raising taxes for the richest people.
該報支持工黨對富人加稅的親勞工觀點。
- Conservative
describing the main rival party in the UK
- right-wing
describes the opposite political position
用法筆記
In British English, 'Labour' (capitalized) is used as an adjective to describe anything connected to the Labour Party. In US English, this sense is less common because there is no major 'Labor Party.'