加剧 (jiā jù) — to intensify | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

加剧 means 'to intensify' a bad or worsening situation (conflict, crisis, pressure). It's more serious than 加重 ('to aggravate') and focuses on processes getting worse, not just adding weight.

verb

to intensify

Easily confused

家具jiā jùsound-alikefurniture

Examples

加剧。
Gōng sī zhī jiān de jìng zhēng jiā jù le.
The competition between companies has intensified.
加剧。
Gōng zuò yā lì bú duàn jiā jù.
Work pressure keeps intensifying.
加剧。
Jīng jì wēi jī jiā jù le shī yè wèn tí.
The economic crisis intensified the unemployment problem.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

加jiāadd

剧jùsevere

加 add and 剧 severe together mean make something more severe.

Characters in this word

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

力口加

力力lìstrength
口口kǒumouth

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 劇; 剧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

刀刀dāoknife

Sound part声符shēngfú

豦

豦jù劇jù

Same sound today

The traditional form 劇 pairs 豦, which gives the sound, with 刀, a knife; the simplified 剧 is a later shorthand.

Open 剧 →

Appears in