Difference between revisions of "Verbs preceded by "gei""

Line 21: Line 21:
 
*小 时候 ,妈妈 每天 都 <em>给</em> 我 讲 故事 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎoshíhou, māma měi tiān dōu <em>gěi</em> wǒ jiǎng gùshi.</span><span class="trans">When I was young, every day my mother would tell me stories.</span>
 
*小 时候 ,妈妈 每天 都 <em>给</em> 我 讲 故事 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎoshíhou, māma měi tiān dōu <em>gěi</em> wǒ jiǎng gùshi.</span><span class="trans">When I was young, every day my mother would tell me stories.</span>
 
*爸爸 应该 <em>给</em> 儿子 道歉 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba yīnggāi <em>gěi</em> érzi dàoqiàn.</span><span class="trans">The father should apologize to his son.</span>
 
*爸爸 应该 <em>给</em> 儿子 道歉 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba yīnggāi <em>gěi</em> érzi dàoqiàn.</span><span class="trans">The father should apologize to his son.</span>
*<em>给</em> 我们 介绍 一下 你 的 男朋友 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Gěi</em> wǒmen jièshào yīxià nǐ de nánpéngyou ba.</span><span class="trans">Talk about this matter to me.</span>
+
*<em>给</em> 我们 介绍 一下 这个 新 项目 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Gěi</em> wǒmen jièshào yīxià zhège xīn xiàngmù ba.</span><span class="trans">Tell us about this new project, please.</span>
 
*谁 能 <em>给</em> 我 解释 一下 这 是 为什么 ?<span class="pinyin">Shéi néng <em>gěi</em> wǒ jiěshì yīxià zhè shì wèishénme?</span><span class="trans">Talk about this matter to me.</span>
 
*谁 能 <em>给</em> 我 解释 一下 这 是 为什么 ?<span class="pinyin">Shéi néng <em>gěi</em> wǒ jiěshì yīxià zhè shì wèishénme?</span><span class="trans">Talk about this matter to me.</span>
  

Revision as of 02:11, 7 November 2017

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.

Structure

Subj. + 给 + Target + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 现在 不要 他 打 电话 。Xiànzài bùyào gěi tā dǎ diànhuà.Don't give him a phone call now.
  • 请 快点 我 回 电话 。Qǐng kuàidiǎn gěi wǒ huí diànhuà.Please return my phone call soon.
  • 你 可以 大家 读 一下 吗 ?Nǐ kěyǐ gěi dàjiā dú yīxià ma?Could you please read it for everybody?
  • 你 发 了 一 封 邮件 。gěi nǐ fā le yī fēng yóujiàn.I sent you an email.
  • 他 说 他 会 我 写信 。Tā shuō tā huì gěi wǒ xiěxìn.He said he would write letters to me.
  • 她 的 粉丝 常常 她 寄 礼物 。Tā de fěnsī chángcháng gěi tā jì lǐwù.Her fans often send her gifts.
  • 小 时候 ,妈妈 每天 都 我 讲 故事 。Xiǎoshíhou, māma měi tiān dōu gěi wǒ jiǎng gùshi.When I was young, every day my mother would tell me stories.
  • 爸爸 应该 儿子 道歉 。Bàba yīnggāi gěi érzi dàoqiàn.The father should apologize to his son.
  • 我们 介绍 一下 这个 新 项目 吧 。Gěi wǒmen jièshào yīxià zhège xīn xiàngmù ba.Tell us about this new project, please.
  • 谁 能 我 解释 一下 这 是 为什么 ?Shéi néng gěi wǒ jiěshì yīxià zhè shì wèishénme?Talk about this matter to me.

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."

Alternative Structure

Although the structure above is the best one to learn first, some verbs frequently use 给, but have the 给 coming after the verb, rather than before. It's best to think of these as exceptions to the rule above, and you can learn more about these exceptions by reading about Verbs followed by "gei".

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Websites