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 Phrase]
Note that the "recipient" in the pattern above is usually a person but isn't necessarily a person. It could be an animal, company, or any number of other types of recipients.
Examples
- 给 客人 倒茶 。Pour a cup of tea for the guest.
- 妈妈 在 给 孩子 们 做饭 。Mom is cooking for the kids.
- 我 儿子 喜欢 给 小狗 洗澡 。My son likes to give a bath to our dog.
- 请 给 我 拿 一 双 筷子 。Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
- 可以 给 我 买 一 杯 咖啡 吗 ？Could you please buy me a cup of coffee?
- 可以 给 我 拿 一下 行李 吗 ？Can you take my suitcase for me?
- 这个 周末 我们 给 儿子 开 生日 派对 。We're going to hold a birthday party for our son this weekend.
- 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?
- 你 想 让 我 给 你 打扫 房间 吗 ？Are you asking me to clean your room for you?
- 如果 你 来 中国 玩 ，我 给 你 当 导游 。If you come to visit China, I'll be your tour guide.
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
