加倍努力
jiābèi nǔlì
The English phrase 'work harder' can be translated into Chinese as 加倍努力 (jiābèi nǔlì).
加倍努力 is used to express the idea of putting in more effort or energy than before to achieve a specific goal. It is frequently used in motivational contexts, such as encouraging students to study or employees to complete a task.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 加倍努力 is composed of 加倍 (jiābèi), which means 'to double' or 'to redouble' and 努力 (nǔlì), which means 'to make an effort' or 'hard work'.
Which one should you use?
While 加倍努力 specifically implies doubling one's efforts, the alternative 更加努力 means 'to work even harder' without that specific mathematical connotation of doubling.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the phrase 使勁啲 is used to encourage someone to exert more strength and effort.
How does it change in a sentence?
加倍努力 can function as both a verb phrase (to redouble one's efforts) and an adverbial phrase (working twice as hard).
How do you pronounce it?
jiābèi nǔlì
When do people say it?
In informal Chinese conversation, you may also hear the phrase 加油, which literally means 'add oil' and is a common way to encourage someone to work harder.
Did you know?
- The character 力 in 努力 is a pictograph that originally depicted a farmer's plough, linking the concept of working harder to agricultural labour.
- While 加油 is used as a cheer for working harder, it is so ubiquitous that it was officially translated into English by the government of Hong Kong as 'add oil'.
- The common encouragement 加油 literally means 'add oil', referencing the act of adding fuel to a steam engine or lamp to make it burn brighter and work harder.
Examples in context
- 为了梦想，你要加倍努力。Wèile mèngxiǎng, nǐ yào jiābèi nǔlì.To achieve your dreams, you need to work harder.
- 我们必须加倍努力才能成功。Wǒmen bìxū jiābèi nǔlì cáinéng chénggōng.We must work harder in order to succeed.
- 他在考试前决定加倍努力。Tā zài kǎoshì qián juédìng jiābèi nǔlì.He decided to work harder before the exam.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a difficult project at the office.
- 梓涵 Zihan这个项目非常具有挑战性。Zhège xiàngmù fēicháng jùyǒu tiǎozhànxìng.This project is very challenging.
- 俊杰 Junjie是的，我们得加倍努力了。Shì de, wǒmen děi jiābèi nǔlì le.Yes, we have to work harder.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，你会帮我的吧？Jùnjié, nǐ huì bāng wǒ de ba?Junjie, you will help me, right?
- 俊杰 Junjie放心吧，梓涵，我会全力以赴。Fàngxīn ba, Zǐhán, wǒ huì quánlì yǐ fù.Don't worry, Zihan, I will give it my all.
