加
jiā
- Pinyin
- jiā
- Pinyin (Plain)
- jia
- Tone
- 1
- Strokes
- 5
- Radical
- 力
- Readings
- jiājiaTone: 1Canada (abbr. for 加拿大[Jia1 na2 da4]); surname JiaOrder: 0Primary
- Stroke Order Code
- Speed
- Stroke Order Data
- ["M 364 477 Q 407 487 452 494 Q 470 495 474 487 Q 481 471 478 429 Q 465 273 435 191 Q 420 140 403 124 Q 391 111 364 118 Q 328 128 295 137 Q 273 143 289 123 Q 338 75 364 39 Q 374 17 395 25 Q 414 26 438 53 Q 504 120 530 386 Q 536 446 558 480 Q 576 502 566 512 Q 550 531 513 546 Q 486 559 460 546 Q 421 530 371 515 L 305 498 Q 292 497 280 494 Q 186 475 130 474 Q 111 475 110 465 Q 109 455 132 440 Q 160 421 186 431 Q 241 449 298 462 L 364 477 Z", "M 298 462 Q 240 222 111 92 Q 47 37 46 35 Q 40 28 60 27 Q 120 27 233 155 Q 245 171 257 189 Q 329 307 364 477 L 371 515 Q 392 650 418 706 Q 425 719 416 729 Q 397 751 356 772 Q 332 785 312 781 Q 287 774 305 752 Q 333 715 330 678 Q 320 578 305 498 L 298 462 Z", "M 636 453 Q 623 460 596 467 Q 583 471 579 466 Q 572 460 580 443 Q 611 346 619 192 Q 618 146 640 114 Q 656 89 664 105 Q 671 123 673 152 L 671 191 Q 670 198 670 205 Q 651 371 650 419 C 649 447 649 447 636 453 Z", "M 864 208 Q 891 376 941 422 Q 960 444 941 465 Q 922 480 859 506 Q 837 515 813 504 Q 767 485 725 473 Q 682 463 636 453 C 607 447 620 414 650 419 Q 662 420 676 425 Q 820 455 826 447 Q 842 432 840 399 Q 825 296 804 215 C 797 186 859 178 864 208 Z", "M 673 152 Q 680 152 689 153 Q 749 163 877 170 Q 889 171 891 181 Q 891 188 864 208 C 843 224 833 221 804 215 Q 731 199 671 191 C 641 187 643 151 673 152 Z"]
- Meaning
- “加” basically means “to add” or “to increase,” such as adding numbers, adding things, or making something stronger (e.g., add salt, increase speed). It can also mean “to apply” or “to put on” to something, like adding a condition or attaching a title.
- Metadata
- Locale: enCached At: 3/24/2026, 7:19:45 PM
Usage
“加” (jiā) most commonly means “to add” or “plus,” both in math and in everyday life. Learners first see it in simple arithmetic (二加三等于五 “2 + 3 = 5”) and in phrases about adding something extra: 加糖 (add sugar), 加班 (work overtime; literally “add work”), 加油 (literally “add fuel,” used as “come on!” / “keep it up!” / “good luck!”). It also appears in the sense of increasing or intensifying something: 加速 (speed up), 加快 (make faster), 加强 (strengthen). Another frequent use is “to apply” or “to add on” in more abstract ways, such as 加入 (to join/add into a group), 加以 (to apply [an action] to something, common in written Chinese), or 对…加以限制 (to place restrictions on…). In many compounds, “加” keeps that core idea of adding or increasing—whether it’s adding effort, quantity, strength, or emotional support—so learners can usually understand new words with “加” by thinking of some kind of “addition” or “increase” in meaning.
Handwriting Notes
加 is usually written as a compact, fairly square character: the top part looks like a slightly flattened “roof” or lid, and the bottom part resembles a simple “mouth” (口). In handwriting, the top component can range from more curved and rounded to sharper and more angular, and the horizontal strokes may be slightly slanted or shortened. The bottom 口 may appear more rectangular or closer to a rounded box depending on the writer’s style and speed, and the inner space often looks narrower in quick writing. Overall, the proportions can shift a bit—taller and thinner or shorter and wider—but the clear separation between the top cover-like part and the bottom box-like part makes the character relatively easy to distinguish. Modern AI handwriting recognition systems are trained on many such handwritten variations so they can reliably identify 加 despite differences in stroke angle, pressure, and neatness.
Description
加 is a common Chinese character meaning “to add,” “to increase,” or “plus.” It is used in math (e.g., addition), daily expressions about increasing quantity or degree, and in words like 加班 (to work overtime) and 加油 (to cheer on / to refuel).
Common Words
- 加jia1to add
- 屡加lu:3 jia1ply
- 加上jia1 shang4plus
- 路加Lu4 jia1Luke
- 加宽jia1 kuan1widen
Example Sentences
我喜欢加。
wo3 xi3 huan5 jia1
I like to add.
屡加很常见。
lu:3 jia1 hen3 chang2 jian4
屡加 is very common.
我们在学习加上。
wo3 men5 zai4 xue2 xi2 jia1 shang4
We are learning plus.
这个路加很重要。
zhe4 ge5 Lu4 jia1 hen3 zhong4 yao4
This Luke is important.
请写一下“加”。
qing3 xie3 yi1 xia4 jia1
Please write '加'.