Meaning of 加
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to add
- (math.) plus
- to increase; to augment
- (used before a disyllabic verb, often after an adverb like 不[bu4], 大[da4], 稍[shao1] etc, to indicate that the action applies to sth previously mentioned, as in 稍加改良[shao1 jia1 gai3 liang2] "make some minor improvements to (it)")
- Canada (abbr. for 加拿大[Jia1 na2 da4])
- surname Jia
How to use 加
加 (jiā) means to add or increase, and it is also the word for plus in math. It appears in many common words like 加油 (jiāyóu), 参加 (cānjiā) and 增加 (zēngjiā). Example: 三加四等于七。(Sān jiā sì děngyú qī.) Three plus four equals seven.
加 (jiā) puts 力 (lì, strength) next to 口 (kǒu, mouth). Picture adding your voice to your strength, so you add more effort to the job.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 加 (jiā) with 架 (jià, frame, shelf), which has 木 (wood) under it and a fourth tone. Also remember that 力 goes on the left and 口 on the right, not the other way around.
加 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
加 jiā · to add · 5 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 加.
| 参加 | cānjiā | to participate; to take part; to join |
| 加油 | jiāyóu | to add oil; to top up with gas; to refuel; to accelerate; to step on the gas |
| 更加 | gèngjiā | more (than sth else); even more |
| 增加 | zēngjiā | to raise; to increase |
| 加强 | jiāqiáng | to reinforce; to strengthen; to enhance |
| 加快 | jiākuài | to accelerate; to speed up; to hasten |
| 加工 | jiāgōng | to process; processing |
| 加入 | jiārù | to become a member; to join |
| 加油站 | jiāyóuzhàn | gas station |
| 加班 | jiābān | to work overtime |
| 加上 | jiāshàng | to add; plus; in addition; moreover |
| 加速 | jiāsù | to accelerate; to speed up; to expedite |
Questions about 加
What does 加 mean?
加 (jiā) means "to add; (math.) plus" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 加?
加 is made of 1 character: 加 (5 strokes). That is 5 strokes in total.
Is 加 an HSK word?
Yes. 加 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 加油 (jiāyóu) mean when people cheer?
Literally it means to add oil or refuel. People shout it to encourage someone, much like saying come on or you can do it in English.
How is 加 used in phrases like 稍加 or 不加?
Before a two-syllable verb, 加 shows that the action is applied to something already mentioned. For example, 稍加改良 (shāojiā gǎiliáng) means to make some small improvements to it, and 不加考虑 (bù jiā kǎolǜ) means without giving it thought.