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加把劲 (jiā bǎ jìn) — to put in more effort; to work harder

Definition

A fixed expression meaning 'put in more effort' — a bǎ-construction, not the verb 加 alone. Often used as encouragement, like saying 'come on, push harder!'

verb
to put in more effortto work harder

Examples

  • ，。
    Wǒ men zài jiā bǎ jìn, mǎ shàng jiù néng wán chéng rèn wu le.
    Let's put in more effort, we'll finish the task soon.
  • ，。
    Suī rán hěn lèi, dàn nǐ dé jiā bǎ jìn cái néng tōng guò kǎo shì.
    Although you're tired, you have to work harder to pass the exam.
  • ：“，！”
    Jiào liàn duì duì yuán men shuō: "zài jiā bǎ jìn, wǒ men jiù néng yíng le!"
    The coach said to the team members, "Put in more effort, and we can win!"

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

加jiāadd
把劲a unit of effort
把bǎunit劲jìneffort
偏正Modifier + head

加 means add, 劲 means effort, and 把 gives the sense of one burst, so it means to add a burst of effort.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
巴
巴bā把bǎ
Same sound today

把 combines 扌, a hand, with 巴 for its sound.

Open 把 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勁; 劲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng勁jìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勁 pairs 力, meaning strength, with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 劲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the original ones.

Open 劲 →
Appears in
Success & Failure

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