加油

Chinese

Chinese phrasebook

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

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
• Min Dong (BUC): gă-ìu
• Min Nan (POJ): ka-iû / kee-iû
• Wu (Wiktionary): ka (T1) + hhieu (T3)

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Pinyin: jiāyóu
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˊ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jiayou
    • IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ i̯oʊ̯³⁵/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed)⁺
    • Pinyin: jiāyóur
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˊㄦ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jiayoul
    • IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɤʊɻʷ³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
    • Jyutping: gaa¹ jau^4-2
    • Yale: gā yáu
    • Cantonese Pinyin: gaa¹ jau^4-2
    • Guangdong Romanization: ga¹ yeo²
    • IPA ^(key): /käː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹⁻³⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: ga¹ yiu^3*
    • IPA ^(key): /ka³³ ʒiu²²⁻²²⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kâ-yù
    • Hakka Romanization System: ga´ iuˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: ga¹ yiu²
    • IPA: /ka²⁴ i̯u¹¹/
  • (Southern Sixian, incl. Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kâ-yù
    • Hakka Romanization System: ga´ (r)iuˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: ga¹ yiu²
    • IPA: /ka²⁴ (j)i̯u¹¹/
• Min Dong
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: gă-ìu
    • 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/
• Wu
  • (Shanghainese)
    • Wiktionary: ka (T1) + hhieu (T3)
    • IPA ^(key): /ka̱⁴⁴  ɦiɜ²³/

Verb

加油

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

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

• (Sichuanese) 雄起 (xióngqǐ)