Expressing "for" with "gei"

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 object. In this case, the default position of the character is before the verb, although it sometimes comes after, depending on the verb.

Basic Usage

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.

Structure

Subject + 给 + [Recipient] + Verb + Object

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

• 我 要 给 孩子 们 做 饭 。 Wǒ yào gěi háizi men zuò fàn. I need to cook for the kids.
• 我 给 你 当 翻译 。 Wǒ gěi nǐ dāng fānyì. I'll serve as translator for you.
• 你的 父母 会 不 会 给 你 买 房子 ？ Nǐ de fùmǔ huì bù huì gěi nǐ mǎi fángzi?Will your parents buy a home for you?
• 你 给 我 泡 一 杯 茶 好 吗 ？ Nǐ gěi wǒ pào yībēi chá hǎo ma?Could you make a cup of tea for me?
• 老公 给 我 买 了 一 个 大 蛋糕。 Lǎogōng gěi wǒ mǎi le yī gè dà dàngāo.My husband bought a big cake for me.
• 我 给 你 削 个 苹果 吃。 Wǒ gěi nǐ xuē gè píngguǒ chī.I'll peel an apple for you.
• 看，我 给 你 带 了 什么？ Kàn, wǒ gěi nǐ dài le shénme?Look what I brought for you.
• 可以 给 我 送 到 门口 吗？Kěyǐ gěi wǒ sòng dào ménkǒu ma?Could you send it to the door for me?
• 小时候，妈妈 经常 给 我 讲 故事。 Xiǎoshíhou, māmā jīngcháng gěi wǒ jiǎng gùshì.In some cases, translating with "for" in English doesn't work well.When I was little, mom often told me stories.
• 医生 在 给 病人 看 病。 Yīshēng zài gěi bìngrén kànbìng.In some cases, translating with "for" in English doesn't work well.The doctor is seeing the patient.
• 这 个 阿姨 给 你 检查 身体。 Zhè ge āyí gěi nǐ jiǎnchá shēntǐ.This would be a health check scenario.This lady will examine your body.

Usage After the Verb

There are some common verbs which allow the 给 to follow the verb. For more on this usage, please see the article "gei" following verbs.

Structure

Subject + Verb + 给 + [Recipient] + Object

Examples

For examples of this usage, please see the article "gei" following verbs.

See also

• "For" with "wei"
• Verbs with "gei"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语虚词例释 (p. 196)→buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 464) →buy