加工

• Pinyin: jiā gōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 加 = 力 (strength) + 口 (mouth), originally meaning to add effort; 工 = pictograph of a carpenter's square, meaning work or craft

Meaning

To process; to manufacture; to work on. Refers to transforming raw materials or a rough piece of work into a finished product through further effort.

Used in industrial, food, and craft contexts for the physical processing of materials. Also used figuratively for revising a text or refining a piece of work. Common in manufacturing and food industry contexts: 食品加工 (food processing), 金属加工 (metalworking), 加工厂 (processing factory).

Examples

1. 这家工厂专门加工各种金属零件。 This factory specialises in processing various metal components.
2. 把新鲜蔬菜加工成果汁需要一定的时间。 It takes some time to process fresh vegetables into juice.
3. 老师建议我对这篇文章再加工一下。 The teacher suggested I work on refining this article a bit more.

Usage Guide

Context: manufacturing, food industry, work, writing

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 这些粮食已经送去加工厂了。(These grains have already been sent to the processing plant.)
• 你需要对这个方案再加工一下。(You need to refine this proposal a bit more.)

Don't Say

• 加工你的感情。(Don't use 加工 for emotions or relationships — it only applies to materials or content. Use 处理 or 培养 instead.)

Origin & History

Compound of 加 (to add, to increase) and 工 (work, craft), conveying the idea of applying additional labour or effort to a material.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal