加重

• Pinyin: jiā zhòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 加 = 力 + 口 (strength + mouth); 重 = 千 + 里 (a thousand li of weight — heavy/serious)

Meaning

To aggravate; to increase the severity or weight of something; to make more serious. Used for worsening conditions, burdens, or penalties.

Can refer to physical weight increase or worsening of conditions (illness, burden, punishment). Common in medical, legal, and social contexts. Often used with 负担 (burden), 病情 (condition), 处罚 (punishment).

Examples

1. 连续加班数周后，他的颈椎问题明显加重，不得不请假就医。 After working overtime for several consecutive weeks, his neck problems clearly worsened, and he had to take leave to see a doctor.
2. 新增税项将进一步加重中小企业的运营负担，引发业界普遍担忧。 New taxes will further increase the operating burden on small and medium-sized businesses, prompting widespread concern in the industry.
3. 法院认为被告存在故意隐瞒证据的行为，决定对其加重处罚。 The court found that the defendant deliberately concealed evidence and decided to impose a heavier penalty.

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, law, economics, daily life

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 长期的心理压力不仅会加重身体上的慢性疾病，还会对个人的判断力与情绪管理能力造成深远的负面影响。(Prolonged psychological stress not only aggravates chronic physical conditions but also has a profound negative impact on an individual's judgement and emotional management abilities.)
• 当前土地资源短缺的问题若不能得到有效缓解，将进一步加重农村地区的生计危机，并引发更大范围的社会不稳定因素。(If the current shortage of land resources cannot be effectively alleviated, it will further exacerbate the livelihood crisis in rural areas and trigger wider social instability.)

Don't Say

• 加重 vs 加剧 — 加重 emphasises increasing weight, severity, or burden (medical, legal, economic); 加剧 emphasises intensification or escalation of a dynamic process or conflict. Say 病情加重 (condition worsening) and 矛盾加剧 (contradictions escalating) — do not use them interchangeably

Origin & History

加 (to add; increase) + 重 (heavy; serious; weight)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal