Expressing "for" with "gei"
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
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 Obj.. In this case, the default position of the character is before the verb, although it sometimes comes after, depending on the verb.
Structure
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.
Subj. + 给 + Recipient + Verb-Obj.
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
- 给 我 倒 一 杯 水 ，谢谢 。Pour a cup of tea for me, thank you.
- 妈妈 在 给 孩子 们 做饭 。Mom is cooking for the kids.
- 请 给 我 拿 一 双 筷子 。Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
- 可以 给 我 带 一 杯 咖啡 吗 ？Could you please bring me a cup of coffee?
- 老公 给 我 买 了 一 条 裙子 。 My husband bought a dress for me.
- 我们 想 给 儿子 开 一 个 生日 派对 。We want to hold a birthday party for our son.
- 我 儿子 喜欢 给 小狗 洗澡 。My son likes to give a bath to our dog.
- 如果 你 来 中国 玩 ，我 给 你 当 导游 。If you come to visit China, I'll serve as a tour guide for you.
- 如果 你 自己 不 打扫 ，谁 给 你 打扫 ？If you don't do the cleaning by yourself, who else will do it you?
- 我 没 带 钥匙 ，你 能 给 我 开 一下 门 吗 ？I don't have the key. Could you please open the door for me?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语虚词例释 (pp. 196) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 464) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
