增

• Pinyin: zēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 增 = 土 (earth) + 曾 (phonetic), to increase/add

Meaning

To increase; to add; to grow. Making something larger in amount or degree.

A common morpheme in compounds related to increase. Examples: 增加 (add), 增长 (grow), 增强 (strengthen), 增多 (increase in number), 增产 (increase production), 增值 (appreciate in value).

Examples

1. 今年公司的营业额增了百分之二十。 The company's revenue increased by twenty percent this year.
2. 随着年龄增长，人的记忆力会下降。 As age increases, a person's memory declines.
3. 这款产品的销量持续增加。 Sales of this product continue to increase.

Usage Guide

Context: growth, statistics, development

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 产量增了不少。(Production has increased considerably.)
• 成本增了，利润就少了。(Costs increased, so profits decreased.)

Don't Say

• 我增一个朋友 (增 is for quantities; for gaining friends, say 交了一个朋友)

Origin & History

Ancient character meaning to add or increase. 曾 is the phonetic component.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal