加油
jiāyóu
The English phrase "do your best" can be translated into Chinese as 加油 (jiāyóu).
The primary way to express encouragement to put forth maximum effort is through the phrase 加油. Other expressions exist depending on the nuance you wish to convey, such as 努力吧 to tell someone to work hard or 拼了 to tell them to give it their all.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 加油 literally means "add oil".
Which one should you use?
While 加油 is a common way to say "do your best" or "keep going", more formal alternatives include 全力以赴, which means to go all out and 竭尽全力, which means to exhaust all efforts or strain every nerve.
How do you pronounce it?
jiāyóu
Did you know?
- The term 加油 has become so globally recognized that 'add oil' was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary as a Cantonese-English phrase.
- The modern use of 加油 as an exclamation of encouragement traces back to the racing culture of the Macau Grand Prix in the 1960s and 1970s.
- While 'do your best' is a common English suggestion, using 加油 in Chinese can feel more like a rhythmic chant used by a crowd.
Examples in context
- 加油！我相信你会尽力以赴的！Do your best! I believe you will give it all!
- 比赛加油！Bǐsài jiāyóu!Do your best in the match!
- 考试加油啊。Kǎoshì jiāyóu a.Do your best on the exam.
- 一定要加油哦。Yīdìng yào jiāyóu o.You must do your best.
Example conversation
Before a big race, a woman encourages her friend.
- 梓涵 Zihan伟，比赛加油！Wěi, bǐsài jiāyóu!Wei, do your best in the race!
- 伟 Wei谢谢你，梓涵。Xièxiè nǐ, Zǐhán.Thank you, Zihan.
- 梓涵 Zihan我会为你加油的。Wǒ huì wèi nǐ jiāyóu de.I will be rooting for you.
- 伟 Wei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.
