<p>You drive to a gas station to "加油".  We don't say "添油".</p>

<p>If you add some firewood to a campfire, we usually say "添柴".  If you say "加柴", if still makes good sense, but does not sound as natural as "添柴".</p>

<p>Otherwise, the character "添" is usually used with other characters, like "增添".</p>

<p>Although ""增添" and "增加" have the same meaning, they're not fully interchangeable. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-12T19:14:27.067Z
it seems being used with other ＂characters＂ （verbs, adjectives）applies at least equally to 加， see e。g。iciba
加 2. （动）使数量比原来大或程度比原来高；增加：～大｜～强｜～快｜～速｜～多｜～急。At iciba find many examples where 添 is used by itself， i。e。 not composed with another verb。 Anyhow this seems to be a dictionary question。Studying dictionary entries for 加，添 may answer above question。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-13T18:20:02.507Z
添油 is also use when adding more oil to a lamp.
OmniBus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-12T18:31:08.117Z
2015-03-12T18:37:35.990Z
2015-03-12T18:37:35.990Z
mangoyogurt
<p>Just as in English, there are situation where the same meaning is present with different words.  For example:  </p>

<pre><code>1 + 1 = 2 
</code></pre>

<p>We said <strong>1 plus 1 equals to 2</strong>, or we can say, while not as common, <strong>1 add 1 equals to 2</strong>.  </p>

<p>Now take another example:  </p>

<pre><code>Add more oil to the pan 
</code></pre>

<p>using <strong>plus</strong> on above sentence will be arguable.  </p>

<p>Now a third example:  </p>

<pre><code>"Our family have a new member!"  (a new born)
</code></pre>

<p>Now, in a sense, a new family member is 'add' to the family, however either 'add' or 'plus' will fit into the sentense.  </p>

<p>Now back to your question, both 加 and 添 means "to add".  There are times where they are interchangeable - Mangoyogurt's answer actually provides some sort of negative example - "加油" and "添油" are both valid where 添油 is more commonly used in ancient times.</p>

<p>For the first example: <code>1 + 1</code>, we will say "1 加 1" but never "1 添 1".</p>

<p>For our last example (new family member as a new born), we will say 添丁.</p>

<p>A good example for these 2 words:  the word "Additive" in Chinese is 添加劑</p>

<p>I hope that gives you a sense on these 2 words' usage and their meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-12T22:27:19.733Z
2015-03-12T22:27:19.733Z
Alex
<p>Do they both mean "to add", or is there some other context that I don't understand?</p>

<p>Thank you in advance! </p>

<difference>
Difference Between 加 and 添
# Difference Between 加 and 添

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-12)

Do they both mean "to add", or is there some other context that I don't understand?

Thank you in advance!

**Tags:** difference

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-03-12. Score: 3

You drive to a gas station to "加油". We don't say "添油".

If you add some firewood to a campfire, we usually say "添柴". If you say "加柴", if still makes good sense, but does not sound as natural as "添柴".

Otherwise, the character "添" is usually used with other characters, like "增添".

Although ""增添" and "增加" have the same meaning, they're not fully interchangeable.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: it seems being used with other ＂characters＂ （verbs, adjectives）applies at least equally to 加， see e。g。iciba 加 2. （动）使数量比原来大或程度比原来高；增加：～大｜～强｜～快｜～速｜～多｜～急。At iciba find many examples where 添 is used by itself， i。e。 not composed with another verb。 Anyhow this seems to be a dictionary question。Studying dictionary entries for 加，添 may answer above question。  
> **username_3**: 添油 is also use when adding more oil to a lamp.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-03-12. Score: 2

Just as in English, there are situation where the same meaning is present with different words.  For example:  
1 + 1 = 2 

We said 1 plus 1 equals to 2, or we can say, while not as common, 1 add 1 equals to 2.  
Now take another example:  
Add more oil to the pan 

using plus on above sentence will be arguable.  
Now a third example:  
"Our family have a new member!"  (a new born)

Now, in a sense, a new family member is 'add' to the family, however either 'add' or 'plus' will fit into the sentense.  
Now back to your question, both 加 and 添 means "to add".  There are times where they are interchangeable - Mangoyogurt's answer actually provides some sort of negative example - "加油" and "添油" are both valid where 添油 is more commonly used in ancient times.
For the first example: 1 + 1, we will say "1 加 1" but never "1 添 1".
For our last example (new family member as a new born), we will say 添丁.
A good example for these 2 words:  the word "Additive" in Chinese is 添加劑
I hope that gives you a sense on these 2 words' usage and their meaning.


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