Meaning of 参加
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to participate; to take part; to join
How to use 参加
参加 is used for taking part in events, activities, and organizations, such as meetings, parties, exams, or clubs. The thing you join comes directly after it, with no extra word in between. Example: 我明天参加朋友的生日会。(Wǒ míngtiān cānjiā péngyou de shēngrì huì.) I am going to a friend's birthday party tomorrow.
Think of 参 (cān) as joining in and 加 (jiā) as adding: when you 参加, you add yourself to a group or event. 加 is the same "add" you see in 加油 (jiāyóu) and 增加 (zēngjiā).
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 参加 (cānjiā) with 参观 (cānguān), but 参观 means to visit or tour a place like a museum, not to take part in something. Also, 参 here is read cān, not shēn or cēn, which are other readings of the same character.
参加 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.
参 cān · to take part in · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
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- 8
加 jiā · to add · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
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- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 参加.
| 加油 | jiāyóu | to add oil; to top up with gas; to refuel; to accelerate; to step on the gas |
| 参观 | cānguān | to visit (a place, e.g. museum or factory); to tour; to look around |
| 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 |
| 参与 | cānyù | to participate (in sth) |
| 加油站 | jiāyóuzhàn | gas station |
| 加班 | jiābān | to work overtime |
| 参考 | cānkǎo | consultation; reference |
Questions about 参加
What does 参加 mean?
参加 (cānjiā) means "to participate; to take part; to join" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 参加?
参加 is made of 2 characters: 参 (8 strokes), 加 (5 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 参加 an HSK word?
Yes. 参加 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 参加 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 参加 is written 參加.
Can I use 参加 to say I joined a person?
No. 参加 takes an event or group, not a person. To say you joined someone, use 跟 or 和 with a verb, for example 我跟他一起去 (wǒ gēn tā yìqǐ qù), I went with him.
What is the difference between 参加 and 加入 (jiārù)?
Both can mean to join, but 加入 focuses on becoming a member of an organization, like 加入公司 (jiārù gōngsī). 参加 is broader and is most common for events and activities, like 参加考试 (cānjiā kǎoshì), to take an exam.