Beyond Translation: 加油！

加油 (jiāyóu): Encouragement You Can Feel What does it really mean when someone in China says 加油 ? Often translated as “keep going” or “you can do it,” 加油 is more than just a phrase of encouragement. It shows up in moments of effort, exhaustion, and perseverance—whether on a race course, before an exam, or in the middle of something difficult. In this episode of our Beyond Translation season, host Stephanie Wendler is joined by Paul Wendler and Lydia Choi to explore how this simple phrase carries such powerful meaning. From quiet beginnings at a marathon to the shared energy of collective encouragement, they reflect on how their understanding of 加油 has grown while living in China—and how it can transform both individual effort and group experience. Together, they look beyond the translation to discover what 加油 reveals about encouragement, shared perseverance, and the ways people support one another through everyday challenges. We’d love to hear from you!

You can listen to Beyond Translation: 加油！ online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Beyond Translation: 加油！ is an episode from Tricolor Chinese Culture Podcast by stephanie.

This episode is 32:35 long.

This episode was published on May 4, 2026.

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