Chinese word

加

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiā

Meaning

  • verbadd

Example

我在汤里加点盐。wǒ zài tāng lǐ jiā diǎn yán

I add a little salt to the soup.

Illustration for 加 (add)

More examples

你可以在茶里加点糖吗？nǐ ké yǐ zài chá lǐ jiā diǎn táng ma

Can you add a little sugar to the tea?

Core concept

Brings something extra into an existing whole, so its quantity, strength, or extent grows.

Common phrases

  • 加点盐jiā diǎn yán

    add a little salt

  • 加水jiā shuǐ

    add water

Similar words

增加zēng jiā: Raise the amount or level of something.
添加tiān jiā: Add material or an ingredient into a mixture or product.
加入jiā rù: Make a person or thing part of a group or larger whole.
加上jiā shàng: Add one thing onto another so that the combined amount grows.

Definition in Chinese

在原有基础上增加数量、程度或新要素，使状态或数量向更大或更强的方向变化。zài yuán yǒu jī chǔ shàng zēng jiā shù liàng chéng dù huò xīn yào sù shǐ zhuàng tài huò shù liàng xiàng gèng dà huò gèng qiáng de fāng xiàng biàn huà

Word origin

加 (jiā, "add") is an old Chinese verb for making an existing amount greater, and its meaning extends from putting in an extra thing to increasing a number or degree.

Usage tips

  • English often says "add something to a dish", while Chinese can place the added thing directly after 加 (jiā, "add"), without an English-style to.

Other meanings

  • increaseverb
  • add onverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word