<p>In tradition Chinese meaning of <a href="http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&amp;searchid=Z00000057263" rel="nofollow noreferrer">能者多勞</a> stated in dictionary owned by Ministry of education in Taiwan. It stated that.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>本指靈巧多才的人多憂勞。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>(Originally means that people have great ability usually tired.)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>後用為恭維人能幹、多才多藝。即能力強的人，承擔較多責任，比常人辛苦。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>(Later used to flatter other that he/she have great ability. That is to say, people with great ability who undertake more responsibility and usually feel more tired than normal people.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-17T11:16:15.843Z
2020-03-17T11:16:15.843Z
000
<p>I would say both interpretations are acceptable.</p>

<p>The more works(劳动) you have to do, the busier (劳累) you would get.</p>

<p>A good example in real life.</p>

<p>My sister can't cook, so my brother in law cooks all the meals for the family.</p>

<p>My sister can't drive long distance, so my brother in law has to drive when they need to go to far away place.</p>

<p>My sister's English is poor, so my brother in law does all the talking when they have to deal with English speakers.</p>

<p>He has to do more works because he has more abilities; he is also busier because he has to do more works. </p>

<p>IMO 多劳 means "work more" and "work more" make you "busier".</p>

<p>You can say 能者多劳 means "the more able man get more works and get busier".</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-17T02:05:14.813Z
2020-03-17T03:28:51.780Z
2020-03-17T03:28:51.780Z
Tang Ho
<p>能者多劳 = 有能力的人做更多的事</p>

<p>（That's why I don't have much to do!)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-17T07:28:21.030Z
2020-03-17T07:28:21.030Z
Pedroski
<p>It means 'able people usually get more work and therefore more busy/tired'. The English equivalent would be 'With great power comes great responsibility.'</p>

<p>Usually used as a compliment like this:</p>

<p>A: I'm so tired of all this responsibility, why do I have to do so much?
B: 能者多勞 right? That just means you're good at what you do.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-17T12:46:41.327Z
But what if I interpret it in the other way, and then it's not a compliment at all, and in a way that's satirical: 能者多勞 right? You're _so_ skillful, it's only fair if you should work more (than me). Is this interpretation possible?
zypA13510
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-17T20:25:29.100Z
It would be a sarcastic remark in compliment form
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-18T07:29:25.667Z
If you refer to yourself, then it's a rather narcissistic compliment, 'I'm good at what I do'. If someone refers to you, then yes it could be interpreted as a compliment or a sarcastic remark, though not malicious. Like Tang Ho said, sarcastic but still a compliment. 'I admit you're good at what you do, but stop shoving that fact into my face.'
Tentacle Monster
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-17T12:27:28.837Z
2020-03-17T12:27:28.837Z
Tentacle Monster
<p>With great power comes great responsibility.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-17T10:34:44.863Z
2020-03-17T10:34:44.863Z
Kira Yamato
<p>I've seen this word 能者多劳 being used in multiple senses on the Internet:</p>

<ul>
<li>One can interpret 劳 as a verb that means working, as in 劳动. Then it gives us <em>able people (should) do more work</em>, or loosely translates to "from each according to his ability".

<ul>
<li>Google translate has this translation verified by Translate Community.</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Or one can interpret 劳 as an adjective that means tired, as in 劳累. Then it gives us <em>able men are always busy</em>.

<ul>
<li>Wiktionary defines it in this way.</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>

<p>Which interpretation is correct? Is there an authoritative answer, or is both interpretation acceptable?</p>

<meaning><word><proverb>
What is the meaning of 能者多劳?
# What is the meaning of 能者多劳?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-03-17)

I've seen this word 能者多劳 being used in multiple senses on the Internet:

* One can interpret 劳 as a verb that means working, as in 劳动. Then it gives us *able people (should) do more work*, or loosely translates to "from each according to his ability".
  + Google translate has this translation verified by Translate Community.
* Or one can interpret 劳 as an adjective that means tired, as in 劳累. Then it gives us *able men are always busy*.
  + Wiktionary defines it in this way.

Which interpretation is correct? Is there an authoritative answer, or is both interpretation acceptable?

**Tags:** meaning, word, proverb


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## 5 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-03-17. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

In tradition Chinese meaning of [能者多勞](http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000057263) stated in dictionary owned by Ministry of education in Taiwan. It stated that.

> 本指靈巧多才的人多憂勞。

(Originally means that people have great ability usually tired.)

> 後用為恭維人能幹、多才多藝。即能力強的人，承擔較多責任，比常人辛苦。

(Later used to flatter other that he/she have great ability. That is to say, people with great ability who undertake more responsibility and usually feel more tired than normal people.)


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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-03-17. Score: 1

I would say both interpretations are acceptable.

The more works(劳动) you have to do, the busier (劳累) you would get.

A good example in real life.

My sister can't cook, so my brother in law cooks all the meals for the family.

My sister can't drive long distance, so my brother in law has to drive when they need to go to far away place.

My sister's English is poor, so my brother in law does all the talking when they have to deal with English speakers.

He has to do more works because he has more abilities; he is also busier because he has to do more works.

IMO 多劳 means "work more" and "work more" make you "busier".

You can say 能者多劳 means "the more able man get more works and get busier".


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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-03-17. Score: 0

能者多劳 = 有能力的人做更多的事

（That's why I don't have much to do!)


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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-03-17. Score: 0

It means 'able people usually get more work and therefore more busy/tired'. The English equivalent would be 'With great power comes great responsibility.'

Usually used as a compliment like this:

A: I'm so tired of all this responsibility, why do I have to do so much?
B: 能者多勞 right? That just means you're good at what you do.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: But what if I interpret it in the other way, and then it's not a compliment at all, and in a way that's satirical: 能者多勞 right? You're _so_ skillful, it's only fair if you should work more (than me). Is this interpretation possible?  
> **username_2**: It would be a sarcastic remark in compliment form  
> **username_4**: If you refer to yourself, then it's a rather narcissistic compliment, 'I'm good at what I do'. If someone refers to you, then yes it could be interpreted as a compliment or a sarcastic remark, though not malicious. Like username_2 Ho said, sarcastic but still a compliment. 'I admit you're good at what you do, but stop shoving that fact into my face.'  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2020-03-17. Score: -1

With great power comes great responsibility.


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