加油
jiāyóu
The English phrase 'keep it up' can be said in Chinese as 加油 (jiāyóu).
加油 is used as an encouragement to someone currently performing a task, or as a cheer to motivate someone to continue their effort. It is equivalent to saying 'keep it up', 'go for it' or 'come on'.
Meaning: maintain or continue a positive streak (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of two characters: 加 (jiā), meaning 'to add' and 油 (yóu), meaning 'oil'.
Which one should you use?
While 加油 is used to encourage continued effort, the phrase 好样的 can also be used in informal situations to show approval and praise, similar to 'well done' or 'way to go'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In mainland China, it is common to add the interjection 啊 after 加油 to intensify the encouragement, resulting in 加油啊.
How do you pronounce it?
jiāyóu
Did you know?
- Modern usage of 加油 traces back to racing culture, where spectators urged drivers to 'add oil' to the engine to increase speed.
- The concept of 'adding oil' is so iconic that it has been adopted into English-speaking contexts in Asia as a direct loan translation.
- In English, 'keep it up' can sometimes imply a warning if someone is behaving badly, but 加油 is almost exclusively positive and supportive.
Examples in context
- 保持下去，你一定会成功的。Keep it up, and you will definitely succeed.
- 你要坚持下去，成功就在前方。Keep it up, success is just ahead.
- 加油！你做得很好！Keep it up! You're doing great!
- 好样的，继续努力哦！Well done, keep it up!
- 只要你继续加油，就一定能成功。zhǐyào nǐ jìxù jiāyóu, jiù yīdìng néng chénggōng.As long as you keep it up, you will definitely succeed.
- 考试成绩进步了，要继续加油！kǎoshì chéngjī jìnbù le, yào jìxù jiāyóu!Your exam scores improved, keep it up!
- 大家加油，我们一定会赢的。dàjiā jiāyóu, wǒmen yīdìng huì yíng de.Keep it up everyone, we will definitely win.
Example conversation
Haoran is encouraging Yuting after she finished a successful presentation.
- 浩然 Haoran你今天表现得真棒！nǐ jīntiān biǎoxiàn de zhēn bàng!You did a great job today!
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢，我真的很紧张。xièxiè, wǒ zhēn de hěn jǐnzhāng.Thank you, I was really nervous.
- 浩然 Haoran别担心，继续加油吧。bié dānxīn, jìxù jiāyóu ba.Don't worry, just keep it up.
- 雨婷 Yuting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.
