Difference between revisions of "Verbs preceded by "gei""
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* 我 <em>给</em> <strong>他</strong> 打 电话 了。<span class="trans">I gave him a phone call. (Literally: I give him hit phone.)</span> | * 我 <em>给</em> <strong>他</strong> 打 电话 了。<span class="trans">I gave him a phone call. (Literally: I give him hit phone.)</span> | ||
* 请 <em>给</em> <strong>我</strong> 回复。<span class="trans">Please give me a reply.</span> | * 请 <em>给</em> <strong>我</strong> 回复。<span class="trans">Please give me a reply.</span> | ||
− | * 你 需要 我 <em>给</em> <strong>你</strong> 点 菜吗? | + | * 你 需要 我 <em>给</em> <strong>你</strong> 点 菜吗?<span class="trans">Do you need me to give you a little bit of food?</span> |
− | * 看 看 我 <em>给</em> <strong>你</strong> 带 了 什么? | + | * 看 看 我 <em>给</em> <strong>你</strong> 带 了 什么?<span class="trans">Did you give what I brought you a little look?</span> |
− | * 我 要 <em>给</em> <strong>他们</strong> 做 一 个 演讲。 | + | * 我 要 <em>给</em> <strong>他们</strong> 做 一 个 演讲。<span class="trans">I want to give them a speech.</span> |
− | * 小时候,爸爸 经常 <em>给</em> <strong>我</strong> 讲 故事。 | + | * 小时候,爸爸 经常 <em>给</em> <strong>我</strong> 讲 故事。<span class="trans">When I was little, my dad often told me stories</span> |
− | * 我 <em>给</em> <strong>我 的 小狗</strong> 做 了 一 件 衣服。 | + | * 我 <em>给</em> <strong>我 的 小狗</strong> 做 了 一 件 衣服。<span class="trans">I gave my dog an article of clothing I made.</span> |
− | * 今年 这 个 老师 <em>给</em> <strong>我们</strong> 上 课。 | + | * 今年 这 个 老师 <em>给</em> <strong>我们</strong> 上 课。<span class="trans">This year, this teacher taught our class.</span> |
− | * 我 <em>给</em> <strong>我 的 女 朋友</strong> 送 了 一 束 花。 | + | * 我 <em>给</em> <strong>我 的 女 朋友</strong> 送 了 一 束 花。<span class="trans">I gave my girlfriend a bouquet.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 09:00, 22 November 2013
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
Chinese speakers use 给 (gěi) in some interesting ways, similar to how English speakers use "to give", as in "to give someone a phone call" or "to give someone a reply".
Structure
The word 给 (gěi) literally means "to give", but is frequently used in Chinese to indicate the target of a verb. The target is who or what the verb is aimed or directed at.
Subject + 给 + Target + Verb + Object
Examples
- 你 妈妈 每天 都 给 你 做饭 吗?Does your mama cook for you every day? (Literally: Your mama everyday gives you cook food?
- 我 给 他 打 电话 了。I gave him a phone call. (Literally: I give him hit phone.)
- 请 给 我 回复。Please give me a reply.
- 你 需要 我 给 你 点 菜吗?Do you need me to give you a little bit of food?
- 看 看 我 给 你 带 了 什么?Did you give what I brought you a little look?
- 我 要 给 他们 做 一 个 演讲。I want to give them a speech.
- 小时候,爸爸 经常 给 我 讲 故事。When I was little, my dad often told me stories
- 我 给 我 的 小狗 做 了 一 件 衣服。I gave my dog an article of clothing I made.
- 今年 这 个 老师 给 我们 上 课。This year, this teacher taught our class.
- 我 给 我 的 女 朋友 送 了 一 束 花。I gave my girlfriend a bouquet.
You can change the above structure into another structure when referring to""打电话、回邮件、发邮件、送礼物、传文件" and the meaning won't change.
Subject + Verb + Object + 给 + Target
Here are examples:
- 你 打 电话 给 他。You give him a phone call. (Literally: You hit phone give he.)
- 我 会 发 邮件给 他。I will send him an email.
- 他 昨天 送 花 给 我 了。You sent me flowers yesterday.
- 你 妈妈 每天 都 给 你 做饭 吗?Does your mama cook for you every day? (Literally: Your mama everyday gives you cook food?
- 看 看 我 带 了 什么 给 你 ?
- 我 要 做 一 个 演讲 给 他们。
- 我 做 了 一 件 衣服 给 我 的 小狗。
- 你 会 送 花 给 我 吗?
But the following expressions sounds weird:
- 今年 这 个 老师 上 课 给 我们。
- 你 需要 我 点 菜 给 你 吗?
- 请 回复 给 我。
- 小时候,爸爸 经常 讲 故事 给 我。
See also
Sources and Further Reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 170) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 154) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 143) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 165) →buy
Websites
- Chinesegrammar.info: When 给 (gěi) comes directly after verbs in Mandarin Chinese (verb-给 compounds)