China Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Add oil! Add oil! Thu Jun 5, 2:52 PM ET BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing organizers are promoting an officially sanctioned chanting routine for Chinese spectators at August's Olympics, state media said Thursday. Incorporating the ubiquitous Chinese sporting chant, "Jiayou" or "add oil," the four-step routine is designed to help spectators cheer in a "smooth and civilized manner" at the August 8-24 Games. The chant will be promoted by television programs, video presentations and squads of cheering volunteers at the venues as well as by the education ministry, the People's Daily reported. The routine begins with "Olympics -- add oil" accompanied by two claps and a double thumbs up, before continuing with "China -- add oil" with two more claps and raised fists. Click on the link for the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Add...oil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLockesGhost Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 There must be something lost in the translation. That or Chinese people are just weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted June 6, 2008 Author Share Posted June 6, 2008 Maybe the chant is intended for those watching women's wrestling at the Olympics? :whoknows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjTj Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 :laugh: I definitely chanted "jia you" at some Chinese school field day events back when I was a kid ... It definitely translates correctly as adding oil - like if you were going to stop at a gas station and fill your tank up, you would say you were going to "jia you." I wonder if its etymology is actually older than the internal combustion engine - maybe it's more like adding oil to the fire for heat or for cooking ... :whoknows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLockesGhost Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 :laugh: I definitely chanted "jia you" at some Chinese school field day events back when I was a kid ... It definitely translates correctly as adding oil - like if you were going to stop at a gas station and fill your tank up, you would say you were going to "jia you."I wonder if its etymology is actually older than the internal combustion engine - maybe it's more like adding oil to the fire for heat or for cooking ... :whoknows: Or a competitive fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLockesGhost Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Given the current state of the oil market, I think they should change their chant to, "Add an alternative." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarrellsMyHero28 Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Given the current state of the oil market, I think they should change their chant to, "Add an alternative." Doesn't have the same ring to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky21 Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 The chant would seem even weirder without DJTJ's explanation. But it's still weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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