Comparing "gei" and "wei"

Both 给 and 为 can mean "for." They seem to be somewhat arbitrarily assigned to different verbs, and to make matters worth, some verbs (but not all!) can use either one. There are a few principles you can use to keep them straight, but also a few exceptions you need to memorize. As always, lots of examples help!

The Core Meaning of 给

As you know, 给 is also a verb meaning "to give." As such, 给 is often used with verbs to express an action done out of kindness or friendship. Think of all the things a mother does for a child, or a generous friend does for her bestie. These would use 给.

Structure

Subj. + 给 + Recipient + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 给 客人 倒茶 。Gěi kèrén dàochá.Pour tea for the guests.
• 妈妈 在 给 孩子 们 做饭 。Māma zài gěi háizi men zuòfàn.Mom cooks for the kids.
• 我 儿子 喜欢 给 小狗 洗澡 。Wǒ érzi xǐhuan gěi xiǎogǒu xǐzǎo.My son likes giving our dog a bath.
• 请 给 我 拿 一 双 筷子 。Qǐng gěi wǒ ná yī shuāng kuàizi.Please get a pair of chopsticks for me.

The Core Meaning of 为

The word 为 automatically feels more formal than 给, due to its association with classical Chinese. Besides being more formal, it is also often associated with obligatory actions or responsibilities. The typical example of this is "to work for Company A": 为A公司工作.

One other common usage of 为 is for uncontrollable emotional reactions that result from relationships with other people. These reactions aren't really done out of kindness; they're spontaneous and not a result of a conscious choice.

Comparison of 给 and 为 by Collocation

What could be more helpful than a big long list of examples? We've done our best to include the most common words that pair (collocate) with 给 and 为, but this list is, of course, not exhaustive.

See also

• Expressing "for" with "gei"
• Expressing "for" with "wei"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 1700对 (pp. 486) [ →buy]

HSK5