重労働
Meanings
1
heavy labor; hard work
General term for physically demanding or strenuous work, often used in everyday contexts.
Work at a construction site is heavy labor.
Carrying these packages is hard work.
2
hard labor (in prison)
Specifically refers to penal labor imposed as part of a prison sentence.
He is serving a sentence of hard labor.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉が重労働に従事するfor someone to engage in heavy labor
He has worked in heavy labor at the factory for many years.
- 〈人〉に重労働を課すto sentence someone to hard labor
The court sentenced the defendant to hard labor.
- 重労働に耐えるto endure heavy labor
She endures heavy labor every day.
- 重労働〈数〉年X years of hard labor (as a sentence)
He was sentenced to ten years of hard labor.