The Oxford Dictionary Now Includes This Popular Chinglish Phrase

By Matthew Minford

For years the Chinese phrase, 加油 (jiā yóu) which literally translates to 'add oil,' had been excluded from any formally recognized dictionary. That is, until now.

'Add Oil!' is now defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as: "expressing encouragement, incitement, or support: go on! go for it!"

Despite its literal translation having only a very loose connection to the true meaning of the phrase, it has long been used by Chinese speakers as a means of motivation. Fans can be heard shouting it to support their team at big sporting events, while parents use the phrase to encourage their children ahead of big exams.

Hugo Tseng, a professor of English language and literature at Soochow University in Taiwan, was reportedly the first to identify the phrase’s placement in the Oxford English Dictionary, according to Inkstone News.

The Dictionary undergoes revisions each quarter, and professor Tseng, who for years regularly searched for the phrase online, never noticed the new addition until recently. The phrase was most likely added when the most recent revisions took effect earlier this month.

[Top image via Pixabay]

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