劳苦功高

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: láo ér wú gōng
• English Translation: To have rendered outstanding service through great toil
• Idiom Composition: 「劳」（Labor or toil）＋「苦」（Hardship or bitterness）＋「功」（Merit or achievement）＋「高」（High or great）
• Meaning: To endure many hardships and difficulties and, as a result, achieve very significant accomplishments. It is a term of high praise that honors both the dedicated effort (the process) and the great merit (the result).

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「劳苦功高」 contains the following nuances:

• Balance of Effort and Result: The idiom pairs 劳苦 (láo kǔ), meaning toil and hardship, with 功高 (gōng gāo), meaning high merit. It is specifically used when both elements are present; it is not used for effort that yields no results, nor for results achieved through luck or ease.
• Expression of Deep Respect: It is a highly respectful term often reserved for those who have made long-term contributions or those who have successfully navigated a particularly grueling and difficult project.

3. Usage

「劳苦功高」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Honoring a distinguished contributor: Commonly used in speeches or ceremonies to honor veteran employees or individuals who have devoted themselves to a nation or organization.
  • Example:「王教授在教育界耕耘四十年，劳苦功高，深受学生爱戴。」
    （Professor Wang has worked in the education sector for forty years and has rendered outstanding service, earning the deep love and respect of his students.）
• Historical or foundational evaluation: Used when looking back at the great deeds of historical figures or the founding members of an organization.
  • Example:「他是公司的创业元老，劳苦功高，理应受到大家的尊重。」
    （As a founding member of the company, he has worked hard and achieved great things, so he deserves everyone's respect.）

Additional Examples:

1. 为了完成这项工程，工程师们日夜奋战，真是劳苦功高。
   （To complete this project, the engineers fought day and night; they truly rendered outstanding service.）
2. 虽然他劳苦功高，但他从不居功自傲。
   （Although he has achieved great things through hard work, he never boasts about his own merits.）
3. 我们要铭记那些为国家独立而劳苦功高的英雄们。
   （We must remember those heroes who toiled and achieved great things for the independence of the nation.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Source: From the Records of the Grand Historian (史记), specifically the 'Annals of Xiang Yu' (项羽本纪). It appears during the famous 'Feast at Hong Gate' (鸿门宴) episode. The general Fan Kuai (樊噲) argued to Xiang Yu (项羽) that Liu Bang (刘邦) had 劳苦功高 (láo kǔ gōng gāo) and that killing him would be unjust.
• Nuance: Unlike a simple word for 'success,' this idiom carries the weight of 'blood, sweat, and tears.' It is often used in contexts where a person's struggle is as important as their victory.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 汗马功劳 (hàn mǎ gōng láo): Literally 'merit of a sweating horse'; refers to distinguished service on the battlefield or great contributions in one's work.
  • 丰功伟绩 (fēng gōng wěi jì): Great achievements and grand deeds; refers to monumental successes.
  • 当之无愧 (dāng zhī wú kuì): To fully deserve something without any doubt.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 劳而无功 (láo ér wú gōng): To work hard but achieve no results; all pain and no gain.
  • 一事无成 (yí shì wú chéng): To accomplish nothing; to fail to achieve a single thing.link
  • 无所作为 (wú suǒ zuò wéi): To accomplish nothing; to be inactive and make no contribution.link

6. Summary

劳苦功高 (láo kǔ gōng gāo) is an idiom used to praise individuals who have achieved great success through immense hardship. Originating from the Records of the Grand Historian (史记), it expresses deep respect for those who did not just succeed, but sacrificed and persevered. It is frequently used in professional settings, such as retirement ceremonies or award presentations, to honor long-term dedication.