Complete the following collocation.

When i got the job, I knew what _______money really is.

hard-earned

The correct answer is hard-earned.

The collocation "hard-earned money" means money that has been earned through hard work and effort. This is the most appropriate description of the money that the person in the sentence is talking about. The person has just gotten a job, and they are now earning money for the first time. They know that this money is hard-earned because they have worked hard to get it.

The other options are not as appropriate because:

• Effort-earned money could be earned through hard work or through other means, such as luck or privilege.
• Soft-earned money is not a common collocation. It could mean money that is earned through easy or dishonest means.
• Honest-earned money is also not a common collocation. It could mean money that is earned through honest means, but it does not specifically mention hard work.