吃苦耐劳

chī kǔ nài láo

hard-working and tough

Character by character

吃chī
eat

苦kǔ
bitterness

耐nài
endure

劳láo
toil

我们需要吃苦耐劳的年轻人。

We need young people who can work hard and take the strain.

Tone: positive (praise).

A stock phrase in job ads and in praise of workers.

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