Chinese Verb "给" (gěi)

to give / for (preposition)

Ditransitive verb

Basic Usage

Give

Subject + 给 + person + object

请给我一杯水。

Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.

Please give me a glass of water.

For (prep)

Subject + 给 + person + verb

我给你做饭。

Wǒ gěi nǐ zuòfàn.

I'll cook for you.

Completed Action (了 (le))

Completed with 了

Subject + 给 + 了 + person + object

她给了我一本书。

Tā gěi le wǒ yì běn shū.

She gave me a book.

Experience (过 (guò))

Experience with 过

Subject + 给 + 过 + person + object

我给过他机会。

Wǒ gěi guò tā jīhuì.

I have given him opportunities.

Ongoing Action (在/着)

In progress

Subject + 在 + 给 + person + verb

妈妈在给孩子讲故事。

Māma zài gěi háizi jiǎng gùshi.

Mom is telling the child a story.

Future / Intent (会/要/想)

Future with 会

Subject + 会 + 给 + person + object

我会给你答复的。

Wǒ huì gěi nǐ dáfù de.

I will give you an answer.

Negation (不/没)

Negative with 不

Subject + 不给 + person + object

他不给我钱。

Tā bù gěi wǒ qián.

He won't give me money.

Negative past

Subject + 没给

你没给我打电话。

Nǐ méi gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.

You didn't call me.

Common Compounds & Related Words

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
给力	gěilì	awesome / impressive
送给	sòng gěi	to give as a gift

Example Sentences

把书给我。

Bǎ shū gěi wǒ.

Give me the book.

这是给你的礼物。

Zhè shì gěi nǐ de lǐwù.

This is a gift for you.

给我看看。

Gěi wǒ kàn kàn.

Let me see.