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犒劳 (kào láo) — to reward or treat (someone) with food, drink, or other comforts as recognition for effort or service

Definition

犒劳 (kào láo) means to treat or reward someone with food, drink, or gifts — usually for hard work or service. As a verb it takes a direct object (犒劳员工); as a noun it refers to the treat itself. The sense is celebratory, not just a raise or bonus.

to reward or treat (someone) with food, drink, or other comforts as recognition for effort or service

Examples

  • 犒劳，。
    Gōng sī wèi le kào láo yuán gōng, qǐng dà jiā chī le yí dùn dà cān.
    The company treated the employees to a big meal to reward them.
  • ，犒劳。
    Tā xīn kǔ gōng zuò le yì zhěng nián, yīng gāi hǎo hǎo kào láo zì jǐ.
    He worked hard all year; he should treat himself well.
  • 犒劳。
    Mā ma zuò le hěn duō hǎo chī de cài lái kào láo wǒ men.
    Mom made a lot of delicious food to reward us.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

犒kàoreward with food
劳láocomfort

犒 and 劳 both express rewarding or comforting service, together meaning to treat someone well.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
牛牛niúcow
Sound part声符shēngfú
高
高gāo犒kào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

犒 is built from 牛, a cow, and 高, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勞; 劳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
𬡤
𬡤𬡤勞láo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勞 uses 力 for the meaning and 𬡤 for the sound; the simplified 劳 is a later shortened shape.

Open 劳 →
Appears in
Food (General)Workplace & Office

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