‘挑夫’ (tiāo fū) literally combines ‘挑’ (tiāo), meaning ‘to carry on a pole across the shoulders’, and ‘夫’ (fū), an archaic or literary term for ‘man’ or ‘worker’. Together, it refers to a person—traditionally male—who earns a living by carrying heavy loads manually, often using a shoulder pole with baskets or bundles suspended at each end. Historically common in pre-modern and early modern China, especially in mountainous regions, ports, or markets where wheeled transport was impractical, the term evokes images of physical labor, endurance, and rural or historical settings.

While ‘coolie’ is sometimes used as a translation, that English term carries colonial and derogatory connotations and is best avoided in respectful modern usage. ‘Porter’ is more neutral and accurate. Today, ‘挑夫’ appears mainly in historical narratives, literature, travel writing about traditional lifestyles, or documentary contexts—not in everyday speech about contemporary workers.