加 jiā to add
to add; to increase
How to remember 加: 力 power + 口 mouth = to add. The weightlifter uses all his power, opens his mouth in a roar and asks the coach to add five more kilos.
Component breakdown
加 = 力 power + 口 mouth
- 力 power
- 口 mouth
The weightlifter uses all his power, opens his mouth in a roar and asks the coach to add five more kilos.
How it came to be
An arm bent at the elbow with a mouth beside it: muscle put behind words. Saying a thing and then putting weight behind it is more than saying it; that is the adding.
How it is used
- Basic "add/increase": 加水 (jiā shuǐ) add water, 加班 (jiābān) work overtime, 增加 (zēngjiā) to increase.
- 参加 (cānjiā) = to take part in / attend (an event, exam, party) - a top-frequency word: 参加会议 (cānjiā huìyì) attend a meeting.
- 加油 (jiāyóu) literally "add fuel" = go for it! / hang in there! - an everyday cheer, plus its literal "refuel" sense.
Characters built with 加
Words with 加
- 参加cānjiāparticipateHSK 3
- 增加zēngjiāto increaseHSK 4
- 加油站jiāyóuzhàngas stationHSK 4
- 加班jiā bānwork overtimeHSK 4
- 加上jiāshàngplusHSK 4
- 加入jiārùto become a memberHSK 4
- 加强jiāqiángto reinforceHSK 4
- 加快jiākuàito accelerateHSK 4
- 加油jiāyóuto add oilHSK 4
- 更加gèngjiāmore (than something else)HSK 4
- 加工jiāgōngto processHSK 5
- 加深jiāshēnto deepenHSK 5
- 加热jiārèto heatHSK 5
- 加速jiāsùto accelerateHSK 5
- 加以jiāyǐin additionHSK 6
- 加倍jiābèito doubleHSK 6
- 加剧jiājùto intensifyHSK 6
- 加重jiāzhòngto make heavierHSK 6
- 添加tiānjiāto addHSK 6
- 加之jiāzhīmoreoverHSK 7
- 加紧jiājǐnto intensifyHSK 7
- 附加fùjiāadditionalHSK 7
- 加盟jiāméngto join an allianceHSK 8
- 强加qiángjiāto imposeHSK 8
- 愈加yùjiāall the moreHSK 8
- 施加shījiāto exert (effort or pressure)HSK 8
- 添加剂tiānjiājìadditiveHSK 9
- 雪上加霜xuěshàng-jiāshuāngto make matters even worseHSK 9
Example sentences
- 请在汤里加点盐。 Qǐng zài tāng li jiā diǎn yán.Please add a little salt to the soup.
- 明天我要加班。 Míngtiān wǒ yào jiābān.I have to work overtime tomorrow.
- 我参加了比赛。 Wǒ cānjiāle bǐsài.I took part in the competition.
- 我们都参加了这次会议。 Wǒmen dōu cānjiāle zhè cì huìyì.We all attended the conference.