劳作 is a formal term for manual labor, especially physical work in farming, construction, or traditional crafts. It can be used as both a noun ('manual labor') and a verb ('to do manual work'). Unlike the more general 工作 (work) or 劳动 (labor), 劳作 carries a literary or serious tone and is often found in written descriptions of rural life, historical accounts, or respectful discussions of hard physical effort.