The widely-used Chinese phrase “add oil!” is now officially in the Oxford English Dictionary, because there just isn’t a better translation for the sentiment.

Originating chiefly from Hong Kong English, “add oil” is used to express support and encouragement. For instance, you can tell your friends in a race to “add oil!” as a way of showing you are rooting for them. You may also use the phrase to cheer someone up when they are having a bad day.

Many students in Hong Kong might have used this phrase in their English writing before, and have been told it was grammatically wrong; but apparently that is no longer the case.

The popular phrase as it appears in the dictionary.

Professor Hugo Zeng, who teaches English language and literature at the Soochow University in Taiwan, was the first one to spot the “add oil!” in the online edition of the dictionary. He spread the news in his column in the Taiwan edition of Apple Daily. He wrote that he had used the phrase casually before, but was surprised to see it being officially endorsed by the world’s principal English dictionary.

Given the versatility of the term’s usage, it had been difficult to narrow it down to a single translation.

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Benjamin Au Yeung, a former Chinese Language and Literature senior lecturer at Chinese University, who is also a Cantonese advocate, expressed his excitement on his Facebook page that “Cantonese [had been] brought into the mainstream trend of world languages”. He also pointed out that “Hongkongers should have faith in Hong Kong’s bilingual culture, and that Cantonese should be used to teach in every subject at school.”

Now that “add oil” is recognised as proper English, some Hongkongers are talking about what other Cantonese phrases could potentially be added to the dictionary.

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Ally Chan, 17, from Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School, told Young Post she believes another Chinglish term deserves to be acknowledged.

“I think the Chinglish word “chur” should be included in OED. It’s commonly used by teens and adults, concisely describing heavy workloads which are burdening them. Having a heavy workload and stressing about it is something that many face. This word easily summarises that feeling, so I think it should be included.”