加油

Chinese

Chinese phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonality.

FWOTD – 15 November 2014

		to add; plus	oil; sly
simp. and trad. (加油)		加	油
Literally: “to increase fuel”.

Etymology

It started to be used as an interjection in the '60s and '70s during the Macau Grand Prix when people start chanting "加油", urging the drivers to step on the gas pedal to increase speed.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): jiāyóu

  (Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˊ

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou, Jyutping): gaa¹ jau^4-2

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): ga¹ yiu^3*

• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): kâ-yù

  (Meixian, Guangdong): ga¹ yu²

• Jin (Wiktionary): jia¹ iou¹
• Min Dong (BUC): gă-ìu
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): ka-iû / kee-iû

  (Teochew, Peng'im): gia¹ iu⁵

• Wu (Wiktionary): ka (T1) + hhieu (T3)

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Pinyin: jiāyóu
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˊ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jiayou
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jiayóu
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕjä⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed)⁺
    • Pinyin: jiāyóur
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˊㄦ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jiayoul
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jiayóur
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕjä⁵⁵ jɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
    • Jyutping: gaa¹ jau^4-2
    • Yale: gā yáu
    • Cantonese Pinyin: gaa¹ jau^4-2
    • Guangdong Romanization: ga¹ yeo²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /käː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹⁻³⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: ga¹ yiu^3*
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ka³³ jiu²²⁻²²⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kâ-yù
    • Hakka Romanization System: ga´ iuˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: ga¹ yiu²
    • Sinological IPA: /ka²⁴ i̯u¹¹/
  • (Southern Sixian, incl. Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kâ-yù
    • Hakka Romanization System: ga´ (r)iuˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: ga¹ yiu²
    • Sinological IPA: /ka²⁴ (j)i̯u¹¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: ga¹ yu²
    • Sinological IPA: /ka⁴⁴⁻³⁵ iu¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: jia¹ iou¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡ɕia¹¹ iəu¹¹/
• Min Dong
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: gă-ìu
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ka⁵⁵ ieu⁵³/
• Min Nan
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, General Taiwanese, Xiamen)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ka-iû
    • Tâi-lô: ka-iû
    • Phofsit Daibuun: ka'iuu
    • IPA (Xiamen): /ka⁴⁴⁻²² iu²⁴/
    • IPA (Taipei): /ka⁴⁴⁻³³ iu²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /ka⁴⁴⁻³³ iu²³/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /ka³³ iu²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kee-iû
    • Tâi-lô: kee-iû
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /kɛ⁴⁴⁻²² iu¹³/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: gia¹ iu⁵
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kia iû
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kia³³⁻²³ iu⁵⁵/
• Wu
  • (Shanghainese)
    • Wiktionary: ka (T1) + hhieu (T3)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ka̱⁴⁴  ɦiɜ²³/

Verb

加⫽油 (verb-object) (intransitive)

1. (literally) to oil; to lubricate
2. (literally) to refuel
3. (figuratively) to refuel to accelerate; to hit the gas
4. (figuratively) to make extra effort; to work hard
5. (figuratively) to cheer someone on

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 加油 (“to refuel (a vehicle)”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		加油
Mandarin	Beijing	加油
	Taiwan	加油
	Guilin	加油
	Malaysia	打油
	Singapore	打油
	Dagudi (Maliba)	上油
	Reshuitang (Longling)	上油
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	上油
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	上油
Cantonese	Hong Kong	入油
Gan	Lichuan	加油
Hakka	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	添油, 加油
	Liudui (S. Sixian)	添油, 加油
	Hsinchu (Hailu)	添油, 加油
	Dongshi (Dabu)	添油, 加油
	Hsinchu (Raoping)	添油, 加油
	Yunlin (Zhao'an)	添油, 加油
	Kuching (Hepo)	打油
Jin	Taiyuan	加油
Min Nan	Xiamen	添油
	Zhao'an	加油
	Taipei	加油 GT
	Penang (Hokkien)	拍油, 添油
	Singapore (Hokkien)	拍油
	Manila (Hokkien)	入油
	Chaozhou	加油
	Haifeng	加油
Note	GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)

Derived terms

• 加油加醋
• 加油機／加油机
• 加油添醋
• 加油添醬／加油添酱

• 加油站 (jiāyóuzhàn)
• 火上加油 (huǒshàngjiāyóu)
• 空中加油
• 空中加油飛機／空中加油飞机

Interjection

加油！

1. come on!; go for it!; go!

   加油，你能行的！  ―  Jiāyóu, nǐ néng xíng de!  ―  Come on, you can do it!

   中國，加油！ / 中国，加油！  ―  Zhōngguó, jiāyóu!  ―  Go, China!

Usage notes

• This interjection is idiomatic. It is mainly used during sporting events, games or competitions, or just to encourage someone.

Synonyms

• (informal) 干巴得 (gānbādei)
• (Sichuanese) 雄起 (xióngqǐ)