(zēng jiā) - to increase, to add to, to raise in Mandarin
zēngjiāTraditional: 增加
Translation
to increase, to add to, to raise
Word origin
A compound of 增 (zēng, to add to, to augment) and 加 (jiā, to add), two synonyms doubled to make a stable two-syllable verb.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 增 (zēng, to augment) + 加 (jiā, to add)
Stroke order
增
加
Examples
增。
The number of students has gone up this year.
增。
The company decided to increase the workers' wages.
增。
Walking more can build up your strength.
增。
Doing it this way will only add to everyone's trouble.
雨增河。
The rain increased the amount of water in the river.
增加 (zēng jiā) is to increase or add to, and it works both ways round: 公司增加了工资 (the company raised wages) and 人数增加了 (the number went up). Its opposite is 减少, and the pair is the standard vocabulary of statistics, reports and news.
It wants a quantity. Amounts, numbers, weight, pressure, trouble: things you could in principle count. For a level or a standard going up, the verb is 提高 (提高水平, raise the standard); for a price or a temperature climbing, 上升 or 涨. 增加了很多钱 sounds odd where 涨工资 is what a native would say about a pay rise.
Both syllables are first tone, a flat high pair that English speakers tend to bend downwards on the second. Keep it level: zēng jiā. The same 加 turns up in 加油 (come on, keep going, and also to refuel) and 参加 (to take part), so it is a character worth banking early.
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增加: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "增加" (to increase, to add to, to raise): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 45.