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增加 (zēng jiā) — to increase, to raise

Definition

A general-purpose 'to increase' — used for quantities, income, output, or any measurable thing. 增长 is similar but stresses growth over time; 提高 is for abstract qualities like ability or efficiency.

verb
to increaseto raise

Examples

  • 增加。
    Zhè ge yuè wǒ de shōu rù zēng jiā le.
    My income increased this month.
  • ，。
    Duō yùn dòng kě yǐ tí gāo miǎn yì lì, jiǎn shǎo shēng bìng.
    More exercise can boost immunity and reduce illness.
  • 增加。
    Wǒ men xū yào zēng jiā chǎn liàng lái mǎn zú xū qiú.
    We need to increase output to meet demand.

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
加jiāadd

The 增 means increase and 加 means add, so together they mean make something 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.

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.

Open 增 →

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 →
Appears in
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