gaa1 jau4加油

Jyutpinggaa1 jau4

Yalegā yàuh

Common

Definition

An expression of encouragement to keep going, do one's best, or persevere.

colloquialemotiondaily actions

How it's used

Originating from the practice of topping up oil in lamps or engines, this expression has evolved into the standard way to offer encouragement in almost any context. It is extremely versatile and can be used for everything from cheering on a sports team to supporting a friend going through a difficult life transition. Unlike formal written Chinese, it is used spontaneously in speech to show genuine support.

Examples

nei5你jat1一ding6定jiu3要gaa1加jau2油aa4呀，m4唔hou2好fong3放hei3棄！

You must keep it up, don't give up!

ting1聽jat6日haau2考si5試gaa1加jau2油，zuk1祝nei5你lo2攞gou1高fan1分。

Good luck with the exam tomorrow, hope you get a high score.

Common phrases

gaa1加jau2油daa2打hei3氣

to cheer someone on

Common mistake

Avoid using this phrase when someone is already overwhelmed or in a state of burnout, as it can sometimes sound like an empty demand for more effort rather than genuine emotional support.