功劳 (gōng láo) is a compound noun meaning 'meritorious service' or 'credit'—the positive contribution someone makes toward a successful outcome. The first character 功 (gōng) means 'achievement', 'skill', or 'effort', while the second character 劳 (láo) means 'toil', 'labor', or 'hard work'. Together, they emphasize that the credit arises from genuine, often sustained effort—not just luck or position. It’s commonly used to acknowledge people who played a key role in solving problems, completing projects, or achieving collective goals.

This word carries a respectful, appreciative tone and appears frequently in formal speeches, workplace feedback, historical narratives, and family conversations when recognizing contributions. It’s rarely used for trivial matters or self-praise—saying '我的功劳' without context may sound boastful. Instead, it’s more natural to say '这多亏了小王的功劳' ('This is thanks to Xiao Wang’s contribution') or '大家都有功劳' ('Everyone contributed').