Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 加 | jiā |
| 添 | tiān |
| 添加 | tiānjiā |
The term 'add' is used to describe making an addition, augmenting, increasing or adding something on. For the mathematical operation of addition, the noun 加法 is used. When you want to emphasize adding something to an existing amount or total, you can use the phrase 加上.
Which one should you use?
The word 加 is the most common and versatile term for adding, used for both mathematical calculations and for adding physical ingredients. 添 is used when adding something to an existing quantity to increase or supplement it, such as adding more people to a group or adding items to a collection. 添加 is a more formal term frequently used in technical or digital contexts, such as appending an attachment to an email or adding a feature to software.
How does it change in a sentence?
By adding the particle 上 after the verb, you create the phrase 加上, which is commonly used as a verb phrase meaning 'to add' or 'plus' within a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
jiā
Did you know?
- While 加 means 'add', the phrase 加油 literally means 'add oil' and is used as a common cheer to say 'go for it' or 'keep going'.
- The character 加 is an ideogram that combines the symbols for 'strength' and 'mouth'. While it means 'to add' today, its ancient origin described the act of using one's voice to exaggerate or slander.
Examples in context
- 加一丁點鹽。Add a tiny pinch of salt.This sentence is useful for learning how to use 加 with physical ingredients.Tatoeba #6077420 by verdastelo9604, translation #5776173 by Hybrid
- 5加10很简单。It is easy to add 5 to 10.This sentence shows the use of 加 in a simple mathematical context.Tatoeba #8714992 by crescat, translation #72570 by CC
- 怎麼加假名注音？How do I add furigana?This sentence demonstrates how to use 加 when discussing adding information or markings.Tatoeba #13519234 by LeviHighway, translation #13185254 by atitarev
- 请将这两个数字相加。Please add these two numbers together.
- 请将这个数字加上前面的结果。Please add this number to the previous result.
- 在这个方程中，将要增加一个未知数。In this equation, we will add an unknown quantity.
- 我们需要将这个数字加到总数中。We need to add this number to the total.
- 五和八等于十三。Five plus eight equals thirteen.
- 这个商品的价格增长了百分之十。The price of this product increased by ten percent.
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A cafe where a customer is customizing a drink.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen请帮我加一点冰。Qǐng bāng wǒ jiā yìdiǎn bīng.Please add a little ice for me.
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，还要加糖吗？Méi wèntí, hái yào jiā táng ma?No problem, do you want to add sugar too?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen不用了，谢谢。Bú yòng le, xièxie.No thanks.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，请稍等。Hǎo de, qǐng shāoděng.Okay, please wait a moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “add” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 加, 添, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
