Verbs preceded by "gei"

Level

B1 / HSK2
Level

B1
Level

HSK2
Similar to
- Verbs that take double objects (A2)
- Expressing "for" with "gei" (B1)
- Expressing "until" with "dao" (B1)
- Using "dui" with verbs (B1)
- Verbs followed by "gei" (B1)
Similar to
- Expressing "for" with "gei" (HSK2)
- Using "dui" with verbs (HSK2)
- Verbs followed by "gei" (HSK2)
- Verbs that take double objects (HSK2)
- Expressing "until" with "dao" (HSK4)
Used for
Keywords

给

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？Did you look a little bit at what I brought you?
我要做一个演讲给他们。I want to write a speech to give them.
我做了一件衣服给 我的小狗 。I made clothes to give my small dog.
你会送花给我吗？Can you give me a bouquet?

But the following expressions sounds weird:

今年这个老师上课给我们。 This year, this teacher attended class to give us.
你需要我点菜给你吗？ Do you have to a little food give me?
请回复给我。Please reply give me.
小时候，爸爸经常讲故事给我。When I was young, my father often told stories gave me.

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)