Add Oil — The Phrase That Jumped Languages

加油 (jiāyóu) literally means “add oil” — as in fueling an engine. Metaphorically, it means “go go go,” “keep it up,” “you’ve got this.”

In 2018, the Oxford English Dictionary officially added “add oil” as an English expression. It’s used extensively in Hong Kong and Singapore English, and increasingly in international contexts.

This is fascinating because unlike “long time no see” (which entered through trade Pidgin), “add oil” entered through cultural diffusion — Chinese diaspora communities, international sports events, social media. The phrase didn’t sneak in through the back door of commerce. It walked through the front door of culture.

The OED entry is the formal recognition. But real adoption is measured in usage. Are non-Chinese speakers saying “add oil” without irony? Increasingly, yes — especially in competitive contexts (esports, sports, business).

“Add oil” represents the modern path for a Chinese borrowing: not through broken trade English, but through lived bilingual experience.

**Verdict: Officially adopted (OED 2018). Let’s help it spread.**