Meaning
辛勤 describes someone who works extremely hard with great effort and dedication, often enduring hardship or toil. It emphasizes both the difficulty of the work (辛) and the diligence applied (勤), commonly used to praise people's tireless efforts, especially in manual labor, teaching, or caregiving roles.
Usage
This is a formal, literary term with positive connotations, often used in written language, speeches, or formal praise. It frequently describes workers, farmers, teachers, or parents. Native speakers use it to show respect and appreciation for someone's dedicated labor. Less common in casual daily conversation where 努力 or 勤奋 might be preferred.
Examples
- 01农民们辛勤劳动，终于迎来了丰收的季节。, .The farmers worked diligently and finally welcomed the harvest season.
- 02老师像辛勤的园丁，培育着祖国的花朵。, .Teachers are like hardworking gardeners, nurturing the flowers of the nation.
Characters
Common collocations
- 辛勤劳动to labor diligently
- 辛勤工作to work hard
- 辛勤耕耘to toil at cultivating (lit. or fig.)
- 辛勤的园丁hardworking gardener (often metaphor for teachers)
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters have ancient roots: 辛 originally depicted a cutting tool or tattoo needle, symbolizing pain and hardship; 勤 combines 堇 (clay) and 力 (strength), representing effortful work. Together they form a compound emphasizing laborious diligence.