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加重 (jiā zhòng) — to make heavier; to add weight to; to aggravate; to make more serious (an illness, problem, burden, etc.)

Definition

加重 has two senses: literally 'to add weight' (箱子重量), and more commonly 'to aggravate / worsen' (病情, 负担, 责任). Compared to 加剧 (intensify a trend/conflict), 加重 focuses on making something heavier or more burdensome.

verb
to make heavierto add weight toto aggravateto make more serious (an illness, problem, burden, etc.)

Examples

  • 加重。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào kě yǐ jiā zhòng xiāng zi de zhòng liàng.
    This material can increase the weight of the box.
  • 加重，。
    Tā de bìng qíng zuì jìn jiā zhòng le, xū yào zhù yuàn zhì liáo.
    His condition has recently worsened and he needs hospitalization.
  • 加重。
    Xīn de rèn wu jiā zhòng le tā de zé rèn.
    The new task increased his responsibilities.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

加jiāadd
重zhòngheavy

加 adds, and 重 shows something becoming heavier or more serious.

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
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Change & ProcessIllness & Symptoms

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