给 + Verb (doing for someone)

• Pinyin: gěi
• Formation: Subject + 给 + Target + Verb Phrase
• Hanzi breakdown: 给 = 纟(silk) + 合 (combine/join)

Meaning

Use 给 (gěi) before a verb phrase to indicate that an action is done 'for' or 'to' a specific person. The person receiving the benefit or action is placed between 给 and the verb.

给 is originally a verb meaning 'to give,' but it also functions as a preposition meaning 'for' or 'to' when placed before another verb. The structure Subject + 给 + Person + Verb indicates that the action is performed for the benefit of that person. For example, 我给你做饭 means 'I cook for you.' This usage is extremely common in spoken Mandarin. Note that 给 can also appear after the verb in some constructions (like 寄给你, 'mail to you'), but the prepositional usage before the verb emphasizes who benefits from the action. A common mistake is confusing the word order — in Chinese, 给 + Person comes before the verb, unlike English where 'for someone' typically comes after.

Examples

1. 我给你倒一杯水吧。 Let me pour you a glass of water.
2. 她给孩子讲了一个故事。 She told the child a story.
3. 请你给我打个电话。 Please give me a call.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 妈妈给我买了一件新衣服。
• 你能给我解释一下这道题吗？
• 老师给学生批改了作业。

Don't Say

• 我给做了一顿饭。(给 must be followed by the person who benefits before the verb — say 我给你做了一顿饭) → 我给你做了一顿饭。
• 给他我发了消息。(The subject must come before 给 — say 我给他发了消息) → 我给他发了消息。

Origin & History

The character 给 originally meant 'to supply' or 'to provide' in classical Chinese. Its extended use as a preposition meaning 'for' developed from the core concept of providing something to someone, naturally expanding to indicate the beneficiary of any action.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal