加油
jiāyóu
To cheer up in Chinese, use 加油 (jiāyóu).
While 加油 can be used to encourage someone to cheer up, it is most commonly used as an exclamation meaning 'go for it' or 'keep going' during a struggle or a competition.
Meaning: to make someone happy (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase 加油 means 'add oil'.
Which one should you use?
If you want to tell someone to 'cheer up' in the sense of 'stop being depressed and pull yourself together,' 振作起来 (zhènzuò qǐlái) is a more accurate choice than 加油. Additionally, the informal phrase 别灰心 (bié huī xīn) means 'don't lose heart'.
How do you pronounce it?
jiāyóu
Did you know?
- The phrase 加油 has become so ubiquitous that it has been adopted into English as a loan translation, 'add oil', which was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2018.
- The phrase 加油 actually originated from the racing tracks of the Macau Grand Prix in the 1960s and '70s. Spectators would shout it to urge drivers to 'add oil' to their engines to increase speed.
- In English, 'cheer up' is a suggestion for mood, but 加油 is often used as a high-energy rhythmic chant. You will hear it shouted in unison by entire crowds during sporting events to create a wall of sound.
Examples in context
- 没关系，加油！你一定能做得更好！It's alright, cheer up! You will certainly do better!
- 不要放弃，振作起来，明天会更好的！Don't give up, cheer up, tomorrow will be better!
- 别灰心！我们相信你一定能够战胜困难！Don't lose heart! We believe you can overcome the difficulties!
- 别难过了，心情好点才能迎接更美好的事物。Don't be sad, cheer up to embrace better things.
Example conversation
Zihan notices Junjie looking sad after a failed test.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，别难过了，加油！Jùnjié, bié nánguò le, jiāyóu!Junjie, don't be sad, cheer up!
- 俊杰 Junjie谢谢你，梓涵。Xièxiè nǐ, Zǐhán.Thank you, Zihan.
- 梓涵 Zihan下次你一定会考好的。Xiàcì nǐ yīdìng huì kǎo hǎo de.You will definitely do better next time.
- 俊杰 Junjie我会努力的。Wǒ huì nǔlì de.I will work hard.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 加油, CC BY-SA 4.0.
