{{Grammar Box}}

The preposition 给 (gěi) can mean "for," as in, "everything I do, I do it ''for'' you." You can also think of it to mean "give," like to give a service or to give an Obj..   In this case, the default position of the character is before the verb, although it sometimes comes after, depending on the verb.

== Structure ==

The meaning of 给 is very similar to [[为]] (wèi) in Chinese, but 给 is more informal than 为, and there are many cases where it's simply based on convention and general practice to decide to use one or the other.

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 给 + Recipient + Verb + Obj.

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Note that the "recipient" in the pattern above is usually a person, but isn't necessarily a person. It could be an animal, or company, or any number of other types of recipients.

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

*妈妈 在 <em>给</em> 孩子 们 做饭 。 <span class="pinyin">Māma zài <em>gěi</em> háizi men zuòfàn.</span><span class="trans">Mom is cooking for the kids.</span>
*你 父母 会 不 会 <em>给</em> 你 买 房子 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ fùmǔ huì bu huì <em>gěi</em> nǐ mǎi fángzi? </span><span class="trans">Will your parents buy a home for you? </span>
*<em>给</em> 我 泡 一 杯 茶 好 吗 ？ <span class="pinyin"><em>Gěi</em> wǒ pào yī bēi chá hǎo ma?</span><span class="trans">Could you make a cup of tea for me?</span>
*老公 <em>给</em> 我 买 了 一 个 大 蛋糕。 <span class="pinyin">Lǎogōng <em>gěi</em> wǒ mǎi le yī gè dà dàngāo.</span><span class="trans">My husband bought a big cake for me.</span>
*请 <em>给</em> 我 拿 一 双 筷子。 <span class="pinyin">Qǐng <em>gěi</em> wǒ ná yī shuāng kuàizi.</span><span class="trans">Please give me a pair of chopsticks.</span>
*我 <em>给</em> 你 带 了 巧克力。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gěi</em> nǐ dài le qiǎokèlì.</span><span class="trans">I brought some chocolate for you.</span>
*如果 你 来 中国 玩 ，我 <em>给</em> 你 当 导游 。 <span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ nǐ lái Zhōngguó wán, wǒ <em>gěi</em> nǐ dāng dǎoyóu.</span><span class="trans">If you come to visit China, I'll serve as tour guide for you.</span>
*我 没 带 钥匙 ，你 能 <em>给</em> 我 开 一下 门 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méi dài yàoshi, nǐ néng <em>gěi</em> wǒ kāi yīxià mén ma?</span><span class="trans">I don't have the key. Could you please open the door for me?</span>
*小时候，妈妈 经常 <em>给</em> 我 讲 故事。<span class="expl">In some cases, translating with "for" in English doesn't work well.</span><span class="pinyin">Xiǎoshíhou, māma jīngcháng <em>gěi</em> wǒ jiǎng gùshi.</span><span class="trans">When I was little, mom often told me stories.</span>
*医生 在 <em>给</em> 病人 看 病。 <span class="expl">In some cases, translating with "for" in English doesn't work well.</span><span class="pinyin">Yīshēng zài <em>gěi</em> bìngrén kànbìng.</span><span class="trans">The doctor is seeing the patient.</span>

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==See also==

* [["For" with "wei"]]
* [[Verbs with "gei"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

*[[现代汉语虚词例释]] (p. 196)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]

=== Dictionaries ===
* [[现代汉语词典（第5版）]] (p. 464) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]


[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|给|B1|Subj. + 给 + 对象 + Verb + Obj.|我 要 <em>给</em> 孩子 们 做饭。|grammar point|ASGLHAV3}}
{{Similar|"For" with "wei"}}
{{Similar|"Gei" following verbs}}
{{Similar|Verbs with "gei"}}
{{Used for|Expressing Purpose}}
{{POS|Prepositions}}
{{Translation|for}}