No base JSON record found for this token.

Character Breakdown

Usage of (zēng)

The character primarily means "to increase" or "to add." It is commonly used in formal and written contexts such as business, government, and academic language. When you use , it often implies a deliberate or planned increase rather than a spontaneous one.

Common Collocations

  • 增产 (zēng chǎn): increase production
  • 增进 (zēng jìn): enhance, promote (often used with abstract nouns like friendship or understanding)
  • (zēng shuì): increase taxes

These collocations show that can be combined with nouns to form verbs indicating the act of increasing something tangible or intangible.

Nuances and Usage Tips

  • is more formal than synonyms like (jiā), which also means "to add" but is more casual.
  • It often appears in written announcements, reports, and formal speeches.
  • Avoid using in casual conversation when simply adding something small or informal; is usually better there.

Common Confusion

Don't confuse with (cháng/zhǎng), which means "to grow" or "long." focuses on increasing quantity or degree, while refers to growth or lengthening over time.

Using correctly will help you sound more precise and formal when discussing increases in quantity, quality, or abstract concepts.

Example Sentences

The company plans to increase production by 20% next year.

To enhance friendship, we organized this gathering.

The government introduced new policies to increase tax revenue.