Definition

Noun: 1. Labourer, manual worker: A person who performs simple, often physically demanding, work, typically involving cleaning, sanitation, or basic maintenance tasks within an institution, office, or factory. 2. Janitor, cleaner: Specifically refers to a person whose job is to clean and maintain the hygiene of a building.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Các lao công đang dọn dẹp văn phòng. (The cleaners are tidying up the office.)
  • Công việc của một lao công thường rất vất vả. (The work of a labourer is often very hard.)
  • Anh ấy làm lao công cho một trường học. (He works as a janitor for a school.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies work that is essential but may be considered low-skilled or part of the informal sector.
• It can be used more broadly to refer to any form of simple, strenuous manual labour, not exclusively cleaning.

Variants and Related Words

• Công nhân (n): Worker, operative. This is a more general and common term for a (typically industrial) worker, often with a specific skill or role, and usually carries a more formal or skilled connotation than .
• Người dọn vệ sinh (n): Cleaner, sanitation worker. A more descriptive phrase specifically for cleaning staff.
• Người lao động chân tay (n): Manual labourer. A descriptive phrase emphasizing physical work.

Synonyms

• Cleaner: Người dọn dẹp, người quét dọn.
• Janitor: Người gác cổng/quản lý tòa nhà (broader role, may include cleaning).
• Manual labourer: Người lao động chân tay.

Related Phrases / Compound Words

• Lao công quét đường (n): Street sweeper.
• Phòng lao công (n): Janitor's room, cleaning supply closet.

noun

1. labourer