Difference between revisions of "Comparing "gei" and "wei""
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− | + | Both 给 and 为 can mean "[[for]]." They seem to be arbitrarily assigned to different verbs, and to make matters worse, 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! | |
− | Both 给 and 为 can mean "[[for]]." They seem to be | ||
== The Core Meaning of 给 == | == The Core Meaning of 给 == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * 请 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>拿</strong> 一双 筷子。 <span class="pinyin">Qǐng <em>gěi</em> wǒ <strong>ná</strong> yī shuāng kuàizi.</span><span class="trans">Please | + | * 请 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>拿</strong> 一双 筷子。 <span class="pinyin">Qǐng <em>gěi</em> wǒ <strong>ná</strong> yī shuāng kuàizi.</span><span class="trans">Please get me a pair of chopsticks.</span> |
− | * 下 飞机 以后,我 <em>给</em> 你 <strong>打</strong> 电话。 <span class="pinyin">Xià fēijī yǐhòu, wǒ <em>gěi</em> nǐ <strong>dǎ</strong> diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">After the plane | + | * 下 飞机 以后,我 <em>给</em> 你 <strong>打</strong> 电话。 <span class="pinyin">Xià fēijī yǐhòu, wǒ <em>gěi</em> nǐ <strong>dǎ</strong> diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">After getting off the plane, I'll give you a call.</span> |
− | * 你 | + | * 你 别 忘 了 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>回</strong> 邮件。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ bié wàng le <em>gěi</em> wǒ <strong>huí</strong> yóujiàn.</span><span class="trans">Don't forget to reply to my email.</span> |
− | * 同事 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>介绍</strong> 了 公司 的 情况。 <span class="pinyin">Tóngshì <em>gěi</em> wǒ <strong>jièshào</strong> le gōngsī de qíngkuàng.</span><span class="trans">My | + | * 同事 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>介绍</strong> 了 公司 的 情况。 <span class="pinyin">Tóngshì <em>gěi</em> wǒ <strong>jièshào</strong> le gōngsī de qíngkuàng.</span><span class="trans">My coworker explained the company's situation to me.</span> |
− | * 这 件 事 是 你 做 得 | + | * 这 件 事 是 你 做 得 不 对, <em>给</em> 他 <strong>道歉</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì shì nǐ zuò de bù duì, <em>gěi</em> tā <strong>dàoqiàn</strong>.</span><span class="trans">What you did was wrong. Apologize to him.</span> |
− | * 老板 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>提</strong> 了 | + | * 老板 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>提</strong> 了 很 多 建议。 <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>gěi</em> wǒ <strong>tí</strong> le hěn duō jiànyì.</span><span class="trans">The boss gave me a lot of suggestions.</span> |
* 上海 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>留下</strong> 了 很 深 的 印象。 <span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>gěi</em> wǒ <strong>liúxià</strong> le hěn shēn de yìnxiàng.</span><span class="trans">Shanghai left a deep impression on me.</span> | * 上海 <em>给</em> 我 <strong>留下</strong> 了 很 深 的 印象。 <span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>gěi</em> wǒ <strong>liúxià</strong> le hěn shēn de yìnxiàng.</span><span class="trans">Shanghai left a deep impression on me.</span> | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
− | 为 + | + | 为 + Person + Verb / Adj. |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
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* 我 现在 <em>为</em> 谷歌 公司 <strong>工作</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiànzài <em>wèi</em> Gǔgē gōngsī <strong>gōngzuò</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I currently work for Google.</span> | * 我 现在 <em>为</em> 谷歌 公司 <strong>工作</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiànzài <em>wèi</em> Gǔgē gōngsī <strong>gōngzuò</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I currently work for Google.</span> | ||
− | * 你 <em>为</em> 国家 <strong>做</strong> 过 | + | * 你 <em>为</em> 国家 <strong>做</strong> 过 贡献 吗 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>wèi</em> guójiā <strong>zuò</strong> guò gòngxiàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Have you made a contribution to our country?</span> |
* 我 真的 <em>为</em> 你 <strong>高兴</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhēnde <em>wèi</em> nǐ <strong>gāoxìng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm truly happy for you.</span> | * 我 真的 <em>为</em> 你 <strong>高兴</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhēnde <em>wèi</em> nǐ <strong>gāoxìng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm truly happy for you.</span> | ||
− | * 父母 <em>为</em> 孩子 <strong>付出</strong> 了 很 多。 <span class="pinyin">Fùmǔ <em>wèi</em> háizi <strong>fùchū</strong> le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans"> | + | * 父母 <em>为</em> 孩子 <strong>付出</strong> 了 很 多。 <span class="pinyin">Fùmǔ <em>wèi</em> háizi <strong>fùchū</strong> le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">The parents did a lot for their child.</span> |
− | * 父母 管 孩子 总是 说 是 <em>为</em> 孩子 <strong>好</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Fùmǔ guǎn háizi zǒngshì shuō shì <em>wèi</em> háizi <strong>hǎo</strong>.</span><span class="trans"> | + | * 父母 管 孩子 总是 说 是 <em>为</em> 孩子 <strong>好</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Fùmǔ guǎn háizi zǒngshì shuō shì <em>wèi</em> háizi <strong>hǎo</strong>.</span><span class="trans">When parents micro-manage their kids, they always say it's for their children's own good.</span> |
− | * 我们 | + | * 我们 都 是 成年人 了,应该 <em>为</em> 自己 的 行为 <strong>负责</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu shì chéngniánrén le, yīnggāi <em>wèi</em> zìjǐ de xíngwéi <strong>fùzé</strong>.</span><span class="trans">We've all adults now, and ought to be responsible for our own actions.</span> |
− | * 政府 <em>为</em> 公司 <strong>提供</strong> 了 保障。 <span class="pinyin">Zhèngfǔ <em>wèi</em> gōngsī <strong>tígōng</strong> le bǎozhàng.</span><span class="trans">The government | + | * 政府 <em>为</em> 公司 <strong>提供</strong> 了 保障。 <span class="pinyin">Zhèngfǔ <em>wèi</em> gōngsī <strong>tígōng</strong> le bǎozhàng.</span><span class="trans">The government provides companies certain protections.</span> |
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</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 09:12, 5 December 2020
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Level
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Keywords
Both 给 and 为 can mean "for." They seem to be arbitrarily assigned to different verbs, and to make matters worse, 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!
Contents
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
- 请 给 我 拿 一双 筷子。 Please get me a pair of chopsticks.
- 下 飞机 以后,我 给 你 打 电话。 After getting off the plane, I'll give you a call.
- 你 别 忘 了 给 我 回 邮件。 Don't forget to reply to my email.
- 同事 给 我 介绍 了 公司 的 情况。 My coworker explained the company's situation to me.
- 这 件 事 是 你 做 得 不 对, 给 他 道歉。 What you did was wrong. Apologize to him.
- 老板 给 我 提 了 很 多 建议。 The boss gave me a lot of suggestions.
- 上海 给 我 留下 了 很 深 的 印象。 Shanghai left a deep impression on 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.
Structure
为 + Person + Verb / Adj.
Examples
- 我 现在 为 谷歌 公司 工作。 I currently work for Google.
- 你 为 国家 做 过 贡献 吗 ? Have you made a contribution to our country?
- 我 真的 为 你 高兴 。 I'm truly happy for you.
- 父母 为 孩子 付出 了 很 多。 The parents did a lot for their child.
- 父母 管 孩子 总是 说 是 为 孩子 好。 When parents micro-manage their kids, they always say it's for their children's own good.
- 我们 都 是 成年人 了,应该 为 自己 的 行为 负责。 We've all adults now, and ought to be responsible for our own actions.
- 政府 为 公司 提供 了 保障。 The government provides companies certain protections.
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
Sources and further reading
Books
- 1700对 (pp. 486) [ →buy]