给/給 gěi — to give

Meanings

1. 1

   to give

   To hand something over. It takes two objects in a fixed order — recipient first, thing second: 给他一本书, never the other way round.

   verb
2. 2

   for, to (marking who an action is done for)

   preposition

   The 给… phrase stands before the verb: 我给妈妈打电话, 他给我们介绍学校.

Example sentences

• 这本书给你。/這本書給你。Zhè (fourth tone, falling) běn (third tone, dipping) shū (first tone, high and level) gěi (third tone, dipping) nǐ. (third tone, dipping)···

  This book is for you.

• 我给妈妈打电话。/我給媽媽打電話。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) gěi (third tone, dipping) māma (first tone, high and level) dǎ (third tone, dipping) diànhuà. (fourth tone, falling)···

  I’m calling my mum.

Common mistakes

• Not quite我给一本书他。

  Correct我给他一本书。

  With two objects, the person always comes immediately after 给 and the thing follows. Putting the thing first copies "give a book to him".

Similar words