劳苦功高（勞苦功高）　

◎ 劳苦功高 láokǔ-gōnggāo

[with toilsome service and with distinctive merits; have worked hard and achived great things] 出了大力,吃了大苦,立了大功

劳苦而功高如此,未有封侯之赏。——《史记·项羽本纪》