Definition
代劳 means 'to do something for someone in their place', especially a favor or task the other person would normally do themselves. It's a polite, mildly formal verb—common in requests or apologies when you're asking someone to handle something on your behalf. You'll often see it in the pattern '请人代劳' (ask someone to do it for you) or '代劳某事' (do sth. on sb.'s behalf). Unlike everyday 帮 (help) or 替 (replace), 代劳 carries a nuance of 'saving the other person effort'. Be careful that the subject is the one who does the favor, not the one receiving it.
v.
to do something for someone (as a favor or in their place)
Examples
- ，代劳。Zhè diǎn xiǎo shì, jiù ràng wǒ lái dài láo ba.This small matter — just let me take care of it for you.
- ，代劳。Tā tài máng le, zhǐhǎo qǐng tóngshì dài láo qù kāihuì.He was too busy, so he had to ask a colleague to attend the meeting for him.
- ，代劳。Jìrán nín bù fāngbiàn, zhè jiàn shì wǒ jiù dài láo le ba.Since it's inconvenient for you, I'll handle this matter instead.
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