薪しん水すいの労ろう

expression, noun

menial services; humble domestic work; serving one's master unsparingly

A literary set phrase, typically used in the pattern 薪水の労をとる, meaning to perform humble, laborious tasks such as kitchen work in service of a master. Conveys a sense of devoted, ungrudging service.

• 彼かれは師し匠しょうのために薪しん水すいの労ろうをとった。

  He performed menial tasks for his master.

• 古ふるい小しょう説せつでは、弟で子しが薪しん水すいの労ろうをとる場ば面めんがよく描えがかれる。

  In old novels, scenes of disciples doing humble chores are often depicted.