增加

• Pinyin: zēng jiā
• Hanzi breakdown: 增 = 土 (earth) + 曾 (once, layer), meaning 'to increase' (layer upon layer); 加 = 力 (strength) + 口 (mouth), meaning 'to add'

Meaning

To increase; to add; to raise. Making something greater in number, amount, or degree.

A general-purpose verb for increasing quantities, numbers, or degrees. Can be used transitively (增加收入 = increase income) or intransitively (人口增加了 = the population increased). More neutral than 增长, which implies steady growth.

Examples

1. 公司决定增加员工的工资。 The company decided to increase employees' salaries.
2. 最近城市的人口增加了很多。 The city's population has increased a lot recently.
3. 你应该增加每天的运动量。 You should increase the amount of exercise you do every day.

Usage Guide

Context: business, statistics, everyday

Tone: factual

Do Say

• 今年的销售额增加了百分之十。(This year's sales increased by ten percent.)
• 我们需要增加一些新的功能。(We need to add some new features.)

Don't Say

• 请增加这道菜的味道。(Don't use 增加 for abstract qualities of food — use 加重 or 加强 for flavour intensity)

Origin & History

增 (to increase, to add) + 加 (to add, to increase). Both characters mean 'to add,' forming an emphatic compound.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal