多劳多得

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: duō láo duō dé
• English Translation: More work, more pay (Reward proportional to effort)
• Idiom Composition: 「多」（More; to do more）＋「劳」（Labor; to work）＋「多」（More）＋「得」（To get; to gain）
• Meaning: The principle that rewards or income should be determined by the quantity and quality of labor provided; the more one works, the more one should earn.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「多劳多得」 contains the following nuances:

• Meritocracy and Performance-Based Pay: Refers to systems where income increases in proportion to results or labor volume, such as commission-based roles, rather than a fixed salary.
• Advocating for Fairness: Often used as a slogan to demand fair evaluation, arguing that it is unfair for those who work less to receive the same compensation as those who work more.

3. Usage

「多劳多得」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Salary Systems: Used to describe pay structures where income is tied to performance or output.
  • Example:「我们公司的销售部门实行多劳多得的制度，业绩越好奖金越高。」
    （Our sales department uses a performance-based pay system; the better your results, the higher your bonus.）
• Motivation: Used to encourage team members by highlighting that their hard work will lead to tangible rewards.
  • Example:「只要大家努力工作，年底分红肯定少不了，毕竟是多劳多得嘛。」
    （As long as everyone works hard, the year-end dividends will be substantial. After all, you get out what you put in.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这种兼职工作是按件计费的，多劳多得，时间很灵活。
   （This part-time job is paid by the piece, so the more you work, the more you earn, and the hours are very flexible.）
2. 打破“大锅饭”，实行多劳多得，才能调动员工的积极性。
   （Only by breaking the 'big pot' system and implementing performance-based rewards can we truly motivate employees.）
3. 在这个平台上，创作者的收入完全取决于流量，真正实现了多劳多得。
   （On this platform, creators' income depends entirely on traffic, truly realizing a system where rewards are proportional to effort.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Historical Context: Before China's economic reforms, a system known as 大锅饭 (dà guō fàn), or 'eating from one big pot,' was common. In this system, everyone received the same pay regardless of their individual productivity. 多劳多得 (duō láo duō dé) became a key slogan during the reform era to introduce market competition and efficiency.
• Modern Nuance: Today, the term is used positively in the context of the 'gig economy,' freelancing, and sales roles. It reflects a pragmatic and meritocratic worldview where individual initiative is the primary driver of financial success.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 按劳分配 (àn láo fēn pèi): Distribution according to work; a formal economic term for allocating resources based on labor contribution.
  • 天道酬勤 (tiān dào chóu qín): Heaven rewards the diligent; a moral encouragement suggesting that hard work eventually leads to success.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò): To gain without effort; to get something for nothing or reap where one has not sown.
  • 坐享其成 (zuò xiǎng qí chéng): To sit and enjoy the fruits of others' labor; to benefit from work done by others without contributing.

6. Summary

多劳多得 (duō láo duō dé) is a meritocratic principle meaning 'more work, more gain.' It is used to describe performance-based compensation and environments where effort is directly rewarded. It rose to prominence as a counter-concept to the 'big pot' (大锅饭) system, where pay was equal regardless of individual effort.