Chinese Grammar: For with 给

Is this for me? Oh, it’s for that guy over there. No fun.
When someone wants to give something to you (or when you want to give someone something - you can’t always be receiving), 给 (gěi) is your word! 给 is one of those little words you can see popping up a lot in Chinese, as it’s a very frequent term. It has a few different uses, which we’ll explain here.

Basic use of 给

One of the first meanings of 给 in Chinese is ‘to give’’.

Structure

Subject+给+noun (target)­+ object

Examples

这 是给你 的。
I’m giving this to you (this is for you).

给我 一 个 吻.
Give me a kiss.

给他 一 双 筷子.
Give him a pair of chopsticks

妻子给我 一块 手表。
My wife gave me a watch.

For, to with 给

给 signifying "to give" is used in several different ways, not unlike in English. In Chinese, just like in English, you “give someone a phone call”; you “give someone an answer”, ...

给 is also frequently used in Chinese to indicate you’re doing something to someone: it indicates the target of a verb (i.e who or what the verb is directed at). 给 then takes on the meaning of “to, for”, “for the benefit of” and is used as a preposition.

Structure

Subject + 给 + Target + Verb + Object

Examples

我给老板 打电话。
I gave my boss a call.

让 他给我 回电 话。
Please ask him to return my call.

妈妈给我 买 了 一 条 裙子。
Mom bought me a dress. (Mom bought a dress for me)

今晚 我给你 做饭 吃!
I’m cooking for you tonight.

他给我 发 一 封 短信。
He sent me a text message.

Here a 给, there a 给, everywhere a 给

Lastly, 给 can be combined with other verbs to compose various compounds. These compounds can be used to specify how something is given, as they are more precise than 给 on its own. Certain set verbs also require the use of 给. Exceptionally, 给 is then placed directly after the verb．

Structure

Subject + Verb + 给 + Recipient + Object

Here are some common compounds:

• 送 + 给 = 送给 to send, to gift to
  
• 借 + 给 = 借给 to lend to
  
• 交 + 给 = 交给 to give, to deliver, to hand over
  
• 还 + 给 = 还给 to return to
  
• 捐 + 给 = 捐给 to donate
  
• 递 + 给 = 递 给 to pass (on) to

Examples

这送给你.
I’m gifting this to you.

这 本 书 是借给你 的。
I’m lending you this book.

请还给我。
Please return it to me.

请 把 英语 书递 给我。
Please pass me the English book (Please pass the English book to me)

In the beginning, it’s best to consider these compounds with 给 as exceptions and to remember 给 as the verb “to give” and as the preposition “to; for”. As you run into sentences with compounds that contain 给, you’ll grow gradually used to which verbs require a 给 after and which ones don’t.

And now, let’s start getting you used to using 给 by practicing!