劳损 (láo sǔn) — to strain (a muscle or tendon from overuse)

Definition

A medical/formal term for straining a muscle or tendon through overuse or repetition — the kind of injury a doctor diagnoses, not a single sudden twist. Compare with the more everyday 扭伤 (niǔshāng, a sprain from one sudden wrench).

verb
to strain (a muscle or tendon from overuse)

Examples

  • ，劳损。
    Tā pǎo bù tài duō, láo sǔn le xī gài.
    He ran too much and strained his knee.
  • 劳损。
    Yī shēng shuō tā láo sǔn le yāo bù jī ròu.
    The doctor said he strained his lower back muscles.
  • 劳损。
    Cháng qī yòng diàn nǎo róng yì láo sǔn shǒu wàn.
    Long-term computer use easily strains the wrists.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

劳láostrain
损sǔndamage

劳 strain and 损 damage appear side by side, giving the sense of strain from overuse.

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.

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 →

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 損; 损 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán損sǔn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 損 pairs 手 (hand) with 員 as a sound part; the simplified 损 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the original components.

Open 损 →

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