過労（かろう、karou）
- overwork

The Japanese word 過労 かろう means "overwork," "overstrain," or "fatigue due to overwork." It refers to a state of physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive work, long working hours, and/or stressful working conditions. It’s a serious condition that can lead to various health problems and even death. It can also refer to the result of being overworked.

⚫︎彼は過労で倒れました。 Translation: He collapsed from overwork. ⚫︎過労が原因で、彼の健康状態が悪化しました。 Translation: His health deteriorated due to overwork. ⚫︎長時間労働は過労を引き起こす可能性があります。 Translation: Long working hours can lead to overwork.

This word is used to describe the state of being overworked or the consequences of overwork. You can use it in conversations about work-related stress, health issues, and the impact of working conditions. It is frequently used in formal or semi-formal situations, such as when discussing work-related health problems or in news reports about the dangers of overwork.

⚫︎The word is typically written in kanji as 過労. ⚫︎The reading is かろう (hiragana). ⚫︎There is only one standard way to write this word.

⚫︎疲労 (ひろう) - fatigue, exhaustion ⚫︎働きすぎ (はたらきすぎ) - working too much, overworking ⚫︎過重労働 (かじゅうろうどう) - excessive labor

⚫︎休養 (きゅうよう) - rest, recuperation ⚫︎休息 (きゅうそく) - rest, break ⚫︎軽労働 (けいろどう) - light work

彼は過労のために、会社を休まざるを得なかった。 ・Translation: He had to take time off work due to overwork. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the consequence of 過労 – the inability to continue working and the need for rest.

過労による死亡が社会問題となっています。 ・Translation: Deaths due to overwork have become a social problem. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the severity of the issue and its impact on society.

The word 過労 is a compound word formed from: ⚫︎過 (か) - "over," "excess" or "too much" ⚫︎労 (ろう) - "labor," "work," or "effort" Therefore, 過労 literally means "excessive labor" or "too much work".