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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Expressing "for" with "wei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22for%22_with_%22wei%22) (B1) - [Using "dui" with verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22dui%22_with_verbs) (B1) - [Verbs followed by "gei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Verbs_followed_by_%22gei%22) (B1)

Used for

[Expressing purpose](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_purpose)

Keywords

[给](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%BB%99)

Translations

[for](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/For)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-gei.jpg](Expressing%20%22for%22%20with%20%22gei%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-gei.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-gei.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-gei.jpg)

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.

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink") - [4.2 Dictionaries](#Dictionaries "wikilink")

Structure --------------------------------------------------------- The meaning of 给 is very similar to [为](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B8%BA) (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.

Subj. + 给 + Recipient + \[Verb Phrase\]

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

- *给* 客人 **倒茶** 。*Gěi* kèrén **dàochá**.Pour a cup of tea for the guest. - 妈妈在 *给* 孩子们 **做饭** 。Māma zài *gěi* háizi men **zuòfàn**.Mom is cooking for the kids. - 我儿子喜欢 *给* 小狗 **洗澡** 。Wǒ érzi xǐhuan *gěi* xiǎogǒu **xǐzǎo**.My son likes to give a bath to our dog. - 请 *给* 我 **拿** 一双筷子。Qǐng *gěi* wǒ **ná** yī shuāng kuàizi.Please give me a pair of chopsticks. - 可以 *给* 我 **买** 一杯咖啡吗？Kěyǐ *gěi* wǒ **mǎi** yī bēi kāfēi ma?Could you please buy me a cup of coffee? - 可以 *给* 我 **拿一下** 行李吗？Kěyǐ *gěi* wǒ **ná yīxià** xíngli ma?Can you take my suitcase for me? - 这个周末我们 *给* 儿子 **开生日派对** 。Zhège zhōumò wǒmen *gěi* érzi **kāi shēngrì pàiduì**.We're going to hold a birthday party for our son this weekend. - 我没带钥匙，你能 *给* 我 **开一下门** 吗？Wǒ méi dài yàoshi, nǐ néng *gěi* wǒ **kāi yīxià mén** ma?I don't have the key. Could you please open the door for me? - 你想让我 *给* 你 **打扫** 房间吗？Nǐ xiǎng ràng wǒ *gěi* nǐ **dǎsǎo** fángjiān ma?Are you asking me to clean your room for you? - 如果你来中国玩，我 *给* 你 **当导游** 。Rúguǒ nǐ lái Zhōngguó wán, wǒ *gěi* nǐ **dāng dǎoyóu**.If you come to visit China, I'll be your tour guide.

See also ------------------------------------------------------- - [Expressing "with" with "gen"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22with%22_with_%22gen%22) - [Verbs preceded by "gei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Verbs_preceded_by_%22gei%22) - [Using "dui"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22dui%22) - [Expressing "for" with "wei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22for%22_with_%22wei%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [现代汉语虚词例释](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%99%9A%E8%AF%8D%E4%BE%8B%E9%87%8A) (pp. 196) [→buy](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) ### Dictionaries - [现代汉语词典（第5版）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8%EF%BC%88%E7%AC%AC5%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89) (pp. 464) [→buy](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)

[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)

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