Verbs preceded by "gei"

Revision as of 09:05, 22 November 2013 by Loganp (talk | contribs) (→‎Examples)

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 做饭 吗?Does your mama cook for you every day? (Literally: Your mama everyday gives you cook food?
  • 打 电话 了。I gave him a phone call. (Literally: I give him hit phone.)
  • 回复。Please give me a reply.
  • 你 需要 我 点 菜吗?Do you need me to give you a little bit of food?
  • 看 看 我 带 了 什么?Did you give what I brought you a little look?
  • 我 要 他们 做 一 个 演讲。I want to give them a speech.
  • 小时候,爸爸 经常 讲 故事。When I was little, my dad often told me stories
  • 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 我们 上 课。This year, this teacher taught our class.
  • 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 You give him a phone call. (Literally: You hit phone give he.)
  • 我 会 发 邮件 I will send him an email.
  • 他 昨天 送 花 了。You sent me flowers yesterday.
  • 你 妈妈 每天 都 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 Did you look a little bit at what I brought you?
  • 我 要 做 一 个 演讲 他们I want to write a speech to give them.
  • 我 做 了 一 件 衣服 我 的 小狗I made clothes to give my small dog.
  • 你 会 送 花 吗?Can you give me a bouquet?

But the following expressions sounds weird:

  • 今年 这 个 老师 上 课 我们This year, this teacher attended class to give us.
  • 你 需要 我 点 菜 吗? Do you have to a little food give me?
  • 请 回复 Please reply give me.
  • 小时候,爸爸 经常 讲 故事 When I was young, my father often told stories gave me.

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

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