增添 (zēng tiān) — to add, to increase | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

增添 is a written/formal 'to add', used for introducing a quality or element (joy, flavor, interest) to something existing. Lighter and more literary than 增加 (concrete numbers/quantities); contrast with 添加 (formal, additives/data).

verb

to addto increase

Examples

增添。
Xīn zhuāng xiū zēng tiān le hěn duō xiàn dài gǎn.
The new renovation added a lot of modern feel.
增添。
Tā de xiào róng gěi jù huì zēng tiān le huān lè.
His smile added joy to the party.
增添。
Zhè běn shū wèi wǒ de zhī shi zēng tiān le xīn de nèi róng.
This book added new content to my knowledge.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

增zēngincrease

增 means increase and 添 means add, so 增添 is to add more.

Characters in this word

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

土曾增

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

曾céng增zēng

Same sound today

增 uses 土 (earth) to show that things grow in earth or are built from earth, and uses 曾 for the sound. This gives the sense of adding or increasing.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

忝

忝tiǎn添tiān

Same sound today

添 pairs 水 (water) with 忝, which gives its sound; the shape pictures increasing by pouring more water in.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Change & Process

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