增 (zēng) — to increase, to augment, to add to
Definition
增 (zēng) is a bound/shortened verb form meaning 'to increase,' usually paired with another character (as in 增加 or 增长). When standalone, it is more formal and written than the everyday 提高.
verb
to increaseto augmentto add to
Examples
- 。Shōu rù zēng jiā le hěn duō.Income increased a lot.
- ？Zěn yàng zēng qiáng tuán duì hé zuò?How can we enhance teamwork?
- 。Chǎn liàng zēng zhǎng le bǎi fēn zhī wǔ.Output increased by five percent.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
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.
Appears in
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