加油 (jiāyóu) — come on / keep it up / add fuel
HSK 3 | interjection / verb | a cheer of encouragement, or to add fuel/gasoline
加油 (jiāyóu)
Literally "add oil/fuel," used as an energetic cheer meaning "come on," "go for it," or "keep it up." Also used literally when refueling a vehicle.
Meanings
- [interjection] Come on! Go for it! Keep it up! (encouragement cheer).
- [verb] To add fuel, to refuel (a vehicle).
Example Sentences
比赛的时候，观众大声喊：加油！ Bǐsài de shíhou, guānzhòng dàshēng hǎn: jiāyóu! During the competition, the audience shouted loudly: Come on!
你要参加考试了，加油！ Nǐ yào cānjiā kǎoshì le, jiāyóu! You're about to take the exam — go for it!
我去加油站加油。 Wǒ qù jiāyóu zhàn jiāyóu. I'm going to the gas station to refuel.
朋友们为她加油，让她更有信心了。 Péngyǒumen wèi tā jiāyóu, ràng tā gèng yǒu xìnxīn le. Friends cheered her on, giving her more confidence.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 给…加油 | cheer for someone |
| 加油站 | gas station |
| 大声加油 | cheer loudly |
| 为…加油 | root for... |
| 互相加油 | cheer each other on |
Memory Hook
A car runs faster when you add fuel — add oil (加油) to a person and they run faster too, powered by your encouragement.