What does 加油 mean?
加油
jiā yóu
You've got this!
jiā (flat) + yóu (rising)
For exams, races, interviews, tough days
Examples
加油！你可以的！
Jiāyóu! Nǐ kěyǐ de!
Come on! You can do it!
Full script
Read the scene again, one line at a time.
- Hercules
A marathon?! 42 kilometers?!
- Zeus
Run for Olympus, my boy! Chinese fans are coming!
- Zeus
And they'll cheer: 加油！
jiāyóu
- Hercules
Jia… you? Hermes, what's that?
- Hermes
Add. Oil.
加 = add · 油 = oil
- Hercules
Add oil? Easy! Greeks LOVE oil!
- Hercules
Whoa— whoa— WHOAAA!
- Athena
加 jiā = add 油 yóu = oil
- Athena
Oil keeps a lamp burning, so we shout 加油！
Fun fact: "add oil" is in the Oxford English Dictionary!
- Athena
Say it with me: jiā… yóu… 加油！
- Zeus
加油，Hercules！ Keep going!
jiāyóu
- Hercules
加油！ I got this!!!
jiāyóu
- Zeus
Your prize: one hundred jars of olive oil!
- Hercules
Wait… so it really WAS oil?!
- Hermes
Add. Oil.
- Athena
Follow for more Chinese!
- Athena
下次见！
xiàcì jiàn