Chinese · Greetings & Phrases
加油
Jiāyóu
Keep going / Good luck
Beginnerinterjection
Definition
An encouragement meaning add oil, used to cheer someone on.
Example
明天考试，加油！
You have an exam tomorrow, good luck!
Etymology
'加油' (Jiāyóu) translates to 'keep going' or 'good luck,' with '加' (jiā) meaning 'to add' or 'to increase' and '油' (yóu) meaning 'oil,' a phrase inspired by the act of fueling energy.
How & Where It’s Used
'加油' has both informal and motivational contexts, commonly used in spoken phrases and on various occasions like sports or exams.