加油
Chinese
Chinese phrasebook
| This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. |
FWOTD – 15 November 2014
| to add; plus | oil; sly | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| simp. and trad. (加油) |
加 | 油 | |
| Literally: “to add 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. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- Cantonese (Jyutping): gaa1 jau4-2
- Hakka
- Jin (Wiktionary): jia1 iou1
- Eastern Min (BUC): gă-ìu
- Southern Min
- Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): 1ka 6yeu
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: jiāyóu
- Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˊ
- Tongyong Pinyin: jiayóu
- Wade–Giles: chia1-yu2
- Yale: jyā-yóu
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jiayou
- Palladius: цзяю (czjaju)
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵/
- (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: jiāyóur
- Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧㄡˊㄦ
- Tongyong Pinyin: jiayóur
- Wade–Giles: chia1-yu2-ʼrh
- Yale: jyā-yóur
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jiayoul
- Palladius: цзяюр (czjajur)
- Sinological IPA (key): /t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ jɤʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Jyutping: gaa1 jau4-2
- Yale: gā yáu
- Cantonese Pinyin: gaa1 jau4-2
- Guangdong Romanization: ga1 yeo4-2
- Sinological IPA (key): /kaː⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹⁻³⁵/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Hakka
- (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
- Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kâ-yù
- Hakka Romanization System: gaˊ iuˇ
- Hagfa Pinyim: ga1 yiu2
- Sinological IPA: /ka²⁴ i̯u¹¹/
- (Southern Sixian, incl. Neipu)
- Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kâ-yù
- Hakka Romanization System: gaˊ (r)iuˇ
- Hagfa Pinyim: ga1 yiu2
- Sinological IPA: /ka²⁴ (j)i̯u¹¹/
- (Meixian)
- Guangdong: ga1 yu2
- Sinological IPA: /ka⁴⁴⁻³⁵ iu¹¹/
- (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
- Jin
- Eastern Min
- Southern Min
- (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 / gê1 iu5
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kia iû / ke iû
- Sinological IPA (key): /kia³³⁻²³ iu⁵⁵/, /ke³³⁻²³ iu⁵⁵/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, General Taiwanese, Xiamen)
Note:
- gia1 iu5 - as an interjection;
- gê1 iu5 - "to refuel".
Verb
加⫽油 (verb-object) (intransitive)
- (literally) to oil; to lubricate
- (literally) to refuel
- (figuratively) to refuel to accelerate; to hit the gas
- (figuratively) to make extra effort; to work hard
- (figuratively) to cheer someone on
Synonyms
Dialectal synonyms of 加油 (“to refuel (a vehicle)”) [map]
| Variety | Location | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 加油 | |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 加油 |
| Malaysia | 打油 | |
| Singapore | 打油 | |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 加油 |
| 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 |
| Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 添油, 加油 | |
| Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 添油, 加油 | |
| Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 添油, 加油 | |
| Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 添油, 加油 | |
| Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 添油, 加油 | |
| Kuching (Hepo) | 打油 | |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 加油 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 添油 |
| Zhao'an | 加油 | |
| Taipei | 加油 GT | |
| Penang (Hokkien) | 拍油, 添油 | |
| Singapore (Hokkien) | 拍油 | |
| Manila (Hokkien) | 添油, 入油 | |
| Chaozhou | 加油 | |
| Haifeng | 加油 | |
| Note | GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified) | |
Derived terms
Interjection
加油！
Usage notes
- This interjection is idiomatic. It is mainly used during sporting events, games or competitions, or just to encourage someone.
Synonyms
Descendants
- → English: add oil (calque)