In Chinese, 給给 gěi also has several meanings depending on context, but as a preposition it means “to” or “for” — introducing the person an action is done for or directed at.
The good news: 給给 gěi can go in two spots — right before the verb phrase, or right after it, with the object moved to the end. The second pattern only means “to,” and it’s most common in Taiwan and parts of southern China.
1S + 給给 gěi + object + verb phrase
我要給我家人打電話我要给我家人打电话
I want to call my family.
她的生日快到了，你要給她送什麼禮物？她的生日快到了，你要给她送什么礼物？
Her birthday is coming soon. What gift do you want to give her?
台北朋友給我介紹了超好吃的湯包台北朋友给我介绍了超好吃的汤包 🤩
A friend from Taipei introduced me to a super yummy soup dumpling place.
💬 FYI — 湯包汤包 tāngbāo
湯包汤包 tāngbāo (soup dumplings) are one of Taipei’s most beloved street foods — thin-skinned dumplings filled with pork and a mouthful of hot broth. If a local friend recommends a place, it’s worth the trip.
我給大家照張相吧我给大家照张相吧
Let’s take a photo together.
我想給你過生日我想给你过生日
I want to celebrate your birthday.
你給我們推薦幾道好吃的菜吧你给我们推荐几道好吃的菜吧
Can you recommend some delicious dishes to us?
我還沒給她匯這個月的錢我还没给她汇这个月的钱
I haven’t sent her the money for this month yet.
2S + verb phrase + 給给 gěi + object
This structure only works when 給给 gěi means “to,” and it’s commonly used in Taiwan and some southern parts of China.
我要打電話給我家人我要打电话给我家人
I want to call my family.
你要送什麼禮物給她？你要送什么礼物给她？
What gift do you want to give her?
我還沒匯這個月的錢給她我还没汇这个月的钱给她
I haven’t sent her the money for this month yet.
📌 Two patterns, one meaning
The two structures above express the same idea — 給给 gěi before the verb phrase, or after it with the object moved to the end. Only the after-the-verb version is restricted to the “to” meaning, and it’s a Taiwan/southern-China habit rather than standard everywhere.
3Common Mistakes
❌我要打電話給我媽媽禮物我要打电话给我妈妈礼物
✅我要給我媽媽送禮物我要给我妈妈送礼物
The “to” object and the thing being given can’t both trail after the verb with nothing marking them — either put 給给 gěi before the verb phrase, or pair it with a proper action verb like 送 sòng (to give as a gift).
4Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
