加油 meaning in English
to add oil; to top up with gas; to refuel; to accelerate; to step on the gas
Meaning of 加油
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to add oil; to top up with gas; to refuel
- to accelerate; to step on the gas
- (fig.) to make an extra effort; to cheer sb on
How to use 加油
加油 is most often shouted to encourage someone before or during a challenge, like a game, an exam, or a hard project. It also keeps its literal meaning at gas stations. Example: 明天考试，加油 (míngtiān kǎoshì, jiāyóu) Good luck on tomorrow's exam, you can do it.
加 (jiā) means to add and 油 (yóu) means oil, so 加油 is literally adding fuel to a tank. Picture someone pouring gas into a runner so they can keep going, and you have both the literal and the cheering meaning.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes say 加油 to someone who has just failed or is grieving, where it can sound like pressure. In those moments a gentler phrase such as 别难过 (bié nánguò, don't be sad) fits better. Also keep both syllables in their own tones: jiā is first tone and yóu is second tone, so don't flatten yóu into yōu.
加油 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
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
油 yóu · oil · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 加油.
| 参加 | cānjiā | to participate; to take part; to join |
| 更加 | gèngjiā | more (than sth else); even more |
| 增加 | zēngjiā | to raise; to increase |
| 石油 | shíyóu | oil; petroleum |
| 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 |
| 汽油 | qìyóu | gasoline |
| 加油站 | jiāyóuzhàn | gas station |
| 加班 | jiābān | to work overtime |
| 加上 | jiāshàng | to add; plus; in addition; moreover |
Questions about 加油
What does 加油 mean?
加油 (jiāyóu) means "to add oil; to top up with gas; to refuel; to accelerate; to step on the gas".
How do you write 加油?
加油 is made of 2 characters: 加 (5 strokes), 油 (8 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 加油 an HSK word?
Yes. 加油 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do you say 'gas station' using 加油?
A gas station is 加油站 (jiāyóuzhàn), with 站 meaning station. You can ask 附近有加油站吗 (fùjìn yǒu jiāyóuzhàn ma), Is there a gas station nearby.
Can I use 加油 to cheer for a team?
Yes. Put the team or person's name first, as in 中国队加油 (Zhōngguó duì jiāyóu), Go China team. Fans often chant it repeatedly at sports events.