Meaning
加 is a fundamental verb meaning 'to add' or 'to increase.' It appears in countless compound words and daily expressions, from mathematical operations (加法 'addition') to cooking (加盐 'add salt') to cheering someone on (加油 'add oil' = 'go for it!'). It's one of the most productive characters in modern Chinese.
Usage
Native speakers use 加 constantly in both concrete and abstract contexts. It combines with other verbs to intensify meaning (加强 'to strengthen'), appears in math (二加三 'two plus three'), cooking instructions (加热 'to heat up'), and social expressions (加好友 'to add as a friend' on social media). The tone is neutral and versatile across all registers.
Examples
- 01请给我的咖啡加点糖。.Please add some sugar to my coffee.
- 02三加五等于八。.Three plus five equals eight.
Common collocations
- 加油come on! / to refuel
- 加班to work overtime
- 加入to join
- 加热to heat up
Antonyms
Origin
The character 加 combines 力 (lì, 'strength/power') with 口 (kǒu, 'mouth'), originally suggesting the idea of using one's mouth to encourage or exert additional force, which evolved into the general meaning of 'adding' or 'increasing.'