labour
labour — 名詞
1. physical activity that people do as their job, especially work that requires a l
勞動；苦工
需耗費體力的實際工作
physical activity that people do as their job, especially work that requires a lot of strength and is done with the hands or body
The renovation required three days of heavy labour to tear down the old walls.
這項翻修工程需要三天沉重的勞動來拆除舊牆。
heavy labour — collocation for strenuous physical work
After years of manual labour, Amira's hands had become rough and very strong.
經過多年的體力勞動，Amira 的雙手變得粗糙而強壯。
manual labour — common collocation
Farm workers in many countries still earn very little for their labour in the fields.
許多國家的農場工人仍然在田裡辛苦勞動卻收入微薄。
Modern machinery has greatly reduced the amount of physical labour on construction sites.
現代機械已大幅減少了建築工地所需的體力勞動。
The canal was built by the forced labour of thousands of prisoners in terrible conditions.
這條運河是由數千名囚犯在惡劣條件下從事強迫勞動建造的。
用法筆記
Often used in compounds such as 'manual labour', 'hard labour', and 'physical labour'. The US spelling is 'labor'.
常見錯誤
2. the group of people who perform physical or practical work for a living, conside
勞工；勞動者
從事體力工作的人們
the group of people who perform physical or practical work for a living, considered together within a company, industry, or country
The company's management met with union leaders to discuss the rights of organised labour.
資方與工會領袖開會討論組織勞工的權益。
organised labour = unionised workers
A shortage of skilled labour has slowed the region's recovery after the floods.
熟練勞工的短缺導致該地區在洪水後重建進度緩慢。
skilled labour / labour shortage
Cheap labour in some garment factories has raised serious ethical concerns among consumers worldwide.
某些成衣工廠使用廉價勞工的做法已引起全球消費者的嚴重道德疑慮。
The conference brought together representatives from business, government, and labour.
這場會議匯集了來自企業、政府和勞工三方的代表。
- management
the group of people who direct and control a company
- employers
people or organisations that hire workers
用法筆記
Used as a collective noun in singular form to refer to the whole group of workers. For individual workers, use 'labourer' or 'worker'.
常見錯誤
3. the total amount of time, energy, and careful effort that someone puts into crea
辛勞；心血
投入某項工作的全部努力
the total amount of time, energy, and careful effort that someone puts into creating something or completing a task over a period
Readers can see the careful labour that went into every page of this illustrated novel.
讀者可以從這本插圖小說的每一頁看出作者投入的細膩心血。
Hiro put many months of labour into designing the community garden for the local school.
Hiro 花了數個月的辛勞為當地學校設計社區花園。
After months of painstaking labour, the research team finally submitted their paper for review.
經過數月艱辛的努力，研究團隊終於將論文提交審查。
The film was a labour of love that took its director seven years to complete.
這部電影顯然是一項不求回報的熱情之作，導演花了七年才完成。
4. the stage of pregnancy in which a baby is born, starting with regular contractio
分娩；陣痛
生產過程中子宮收縮到嬰兒出生的階段
the stage of pregnancy in which a baby is born, starting with regular contractions of the womb and ending when the infant emerges from the mother
Paloma was in labour for nearly twelve hours before her daughter was born.
Paloma 分娩了將近十二小時，女兒才出生。
in labour — fixed phrase for the childbirth stage
The midwife stayed with Kian's wife throughout her labour, offering encouragement and pain relief.
助產士在 Kian 的太太整個分娩過程中陪伴在旁，給予鼓勵和止痛協助。
Modern hospitals offer a range of pain relief options to women during labour.
現代的醫院為產婦分娩時提供多種止痛選擇。
Roya had a long and difficult labour, but both mother and baby remained healthy.
她的產程既長又困難，但母子均安。
- childbirth
the broader term covering the whole process of giving birth
- delivery
the medical term for the moment the baby is born
- contractions
specifically refers to the muscle movements, not the full process
用法筆記
Usually used in the uncountable form and in the fixed phrase 'in labour'. Do not add 'of a baby' after 'in labour'.
常見錯誤
5. the name of a major British political organisation, formed to represent the inte
工黨
英國主張社會平等及勞工權益的政黨
the name of a major British political organisation, formed to represent the interests of working people and now supporting social equality and stronger protections for employees
Eitan has been a member of the Labour Party since he was a university student.
Eitan 從大學時代起就是工黨黨員。
The Labour government introduced free healthcare for all citizens back in 1948.
工黨政府於 1948 年推出了全民免費醫療服務。
capitalised: Labour = the British political party
Labour won the general election by a narrow majority of just thirty-two seats.
工黨僅以三十二席的些微多數贏得大選。
Party members gathered in Manchester to hear the new Labour leader's first major speech.
黨員們齊聚曼徹斯特，聆聽新任工黨領袖的首場重大演說。
用法筆記
Always capitalised when referring to the British political party. Can be used as 'the Labour Party' or simply 'Labour'.
常見錯誤
labour — 動詞
1. to do physical work that requires a lot of strength or effort, often for a long
勞動；苦幹
長時間從事耗費體力的工作
to do physical work that requires a lot of strength or effort, often for a long time
Jason laboured in the fields from sunrise until dusk during the harvest season.
Jason 在收成季節從日出到黃昏都在田裡勞動。
The miners laboured underground for years, often in dangerous and unhealthy conditions.
這些礦工在地下勞動了多年，經常處於危險且不衛生的環境中。
Rescue workers laboured through the night to pull survivors from the collapsed building.
救援人員徹夜奮戰，試圖從倒塌的建築物中救出生還者。
Naoko laboured tirelessly to restore the old farmhouse her grandmother had left her.
她孜孜不倦地修復祖母留給她的老農舍。
文法句型
labour + prepositional phrase (place/time/duration)
用法筆記
Typically intransitive. Often followed by a prepositional phrase that describes where, when, or how long someone works. The sense overlaps with noun sense 1.
常見錯誤
2. to carry out a task at a very slow pace because completing it demands a huge amo
吃力
緩慢而吃力地做某事
to carry out a task at a very slow pace because completing it demands a huge amount of bodily or mental exertion
Imran laboured over his final essay, rewriting each paragraph several times to get it right.
Imran 絞盡腦汁修改他的期末論文，好幾次重寫每一個段落。
labour over [task] — work on with difficulty
The old truck laboured up the steep mountain road, its engine making strange sounds.
那輛老卡車吃力地爬著陡峭的山路，引擎發出奇怪的聲音。
inanimate subject: vehicle labours up a slope
Otis laboured to understand the complex legal documents his lawyer had sent him.
Otis 費力地試圖理解律師寄給他的複雜法律文件。
Christopher laboured through the dense textbook, stopping frequently to look up new vocabulary.
她吃力地啃著那本內容艱澀的教科書，不時停下來查閱新的詞彙。
- coast
to proceed without much effort
- breeze through
to do something easily and quickly
文法句型
labour over [task]
labour through [difficult material]
labour to [achieve something]
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 1: sense 1 is about sustained physical work in a job context; sense 2 is about slow, difficult progress on any task — physical, mental, or mechanical. The subject can be a person or a machine.
常見錯誤
labour — 形容詞
1. associated with the British Labour Party, a major political organisation that pr
工黨的
與英國工黨有關的
associated with the British Labour Party, a major political organisation that promotes social equality and the rights of workers
Indra voted for the Labour candidate in every local and national election she could.
Indra 在每一次地方和全國性選舉中都投票給工黨候選人。
The Labour member of parliament gave a passionate speech about funding for public schools.
這位工黨國會議員就公立學校的經費問題發表了一場充滿熱情的演說。
Labour + noun — attributive use
Labour supporters gathered outside the town hall to hear the newly announced election results.
工黨支持者聚集在市政廳外，聆聽剛宣布的選舉結果。
The Labour manifesto promised to increase funding for the National Health Service.
工黨的競選宣言承諾增加國民保健署的經費。
- Conservative
belonging to the main centre-right party in Britain
- Tory
informal term for a Conservative Party member
文法句型
Labour + noun
用法筆記
Always capitalised. Used only before a noun (attributive position). Not used predicatively — you would not say 'the party is Labour' in the same sense.