Chinese Character: 加
1. Character Basics
Radical: 力 (lì radical, "power" radical)
Stroke Count: 5
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiā
3. Meaning
to add, to increase, to plus, to join, to participate, to apply, to put in
4. Common Words
- 加油 (jiā yóu) - to cheer on, to add oil
- 增加 (zēng jiā) - to increase, to augment
- 加入 (jiā rù) - to join, to take part in
- 加法 (jiā fǎ) - addition (mathematics)
- 加强 (jiā qiáng) - to strengthen, to reinforce
- 加速 (jiā sù) - to accelerate, to speed up
5. Grammar & Usage
1. Used as a verb meaning "to add" or "to increase"
2. Often used in the structure "加上" (jiā shàng) meaning "to add on"
3. Can be used with both concrete and abstract nouns
4. In modern Chinese, commonly used in various contexts including mathematics, cooking, sports, and everyday activities
6. Cultural Background
The character 加 has been used in Chinese writing for thousands of years. The original meaning of 加 was "to apply force" or "to increase", which is reflected in its radical 力 (power). The character is widely used in both traditional and modern Chinese, and it appears in many common phrases and expressions in daily life. In Chinese culture, the concept of "adding" or "increasing" often has positive connotations, such as adding happiness, adding strength, or adding success.
7. Example Sentence
请给我加一点糖。
Pronunciation: Qǐng gěi wǒ jiā yī diǎn táng.
Translation: Please add a little sugar for me.
8. Memory Tips
The character 加 has 5 strokes. It consists of the 力 (power) radical on the right and 口 (mouth) on the left. You can remember it by thinking of "using your mouth to add something" - which connects to its meanings of adding, increasing, or putting in. The power radical also relates to the idea of applying force to add or increase something.