犬马之劳 (quǎn mǎ zhī láo) — (humble) one's humble service; one's loyal efforts

Definition

A humble, literary set phrase meaning 'one's loyal service' — used to self-deprecatingly offer or describe devoted effort to a superior or employer. Almost always appears in formal speech or writing.

noun
(humble) one's humble serviceone's loyal efforts

Examples

  • 犬马之劳。
    Wǒ yuàn yì wèi nín xiào quǎn mǎ zhī láo.
    I am willing to offer you my humble service.
  • ，犬马之劳。
    Zhǐ yào gōng sī xū yào, wǒ suí shí yuàn jìn quǎn mǎ zhī láo.
    As long as the company needs, I am always ready to do my humble service.
  • 犬马之劳。
    Tā gǎn xiè bù xià duō nián lái de quǎn mǎ zhī láo.
    He thanked his subordinates for their years of faithful service.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

犬 is a drawing of a dog seen from the side.

Open 犬 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Open 马 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.