The phrase ‘add oil’ is now an entry in the Oxford dictionary

LIVING IN SHANGHAI?

Join our WeChat group by sending us
a friend request and texting
"Living in Shanghai"

In a major victory for Chinglish speakers everywhere, the phrase “add oil!” has been officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

“Add oil” is a direct English translation of the Chinese phrase “jiāyóu” (加油), an exclamation used frequently across China to express encouragement or support for someone else. Despite the phrase being one of the most widely used in the Chinese language, it’s always been difficult to come up with an appropriate way to translate it into English, because of the expression’s versatility, leading some to go with the jokey literal translation.

This happens mostly in Hong Kong. The entry in the online version of the OED says that the phrase originates chiefly from Hong Kong English, giving the definition as “expressing encouragement, incitement, or support: go on! go for it!”

Hong Kong media outlets have widely reported on the phrase’s inclusion in the OED with the city’s net users cheering their contribution to the world’s “most authoritative and comprehensive record of the English language.”

It was Hugo Tseng, an English professor at Taiwan’s Soochow University, who first noticed the entry, penning a gleeful column about his finding in Apple Daily. Tseng said that for more than a decade he had been regularly checking for the phrase following each OED quarterly update, indicating that “add oil!” likely came in the latest batch of new words.

However, the phrase isn’t actually listed in the most recent update of 1,400 new terms, which includes words and phrases like: nothingburger, fam, not in Kansas anymore, eeny-weeny, dunnit, assless, and Pooh-sticks. In a 2016 blog post, OED editors did at least say that they were researching the expression.

TRENDING
NOW

Chow Yun-fat lives on $100 a month and will donate $714 to charity
The Hong Kong film legend reportedly lives on just HK$800 a month, saving up his money so that one day he can leave it all to charity.

Chinese netizens decry the inaction of their compatriots.

Didi passenger drinks free water from car. It was piss. 
A thirsty Didi Chuxing passenger takes a swig from a water bottle in the car he was riding in, only to discover that it's not water.

SHANGHAIIST
EATS

One of Shanghaiist's great favorites since we arrived in the city more than 10 years ago.

Read what we say about Comma, Pierogi Ladies, Momenti, and Umi.

A fabulously fun brunch at Mr & Mrs Bund
A playful dining experience with dazzling views of Shanghai’s skyline as your backdrop.

EVENT
TICKETS

Oct 10-21: STOMP @ ET Space
Oct 21: Masquerade Ball on the Bund @ Char Bar
Nov 5: TastyTrip Gastronomic Forum @ The St Regis Shanghai Jingan

JOIN THE
COMMUNITY

Be a part of Shanghai's largest, most vibrant network of foreigners and friends!
1. Add us on WeChat at theshanghaiist
2. Text "Living in Shanghai"
3. Wait to be added to a WeChat group
4. Ask questions, seek recommendations and connect with like-minded people.

BE SEEN BY SHANGHAIIST READERS
商务合作微信号 | theshanghaiist
[e-mail]