Basic Duì and Gěi in Chinese

Grammar Point:
The common function between the Chinese words 對对 duì and 給给 gěi is that they can both be used as prepositions to introduce the target object.

對对 duì

In Chinese, 對对 duì can have various meanings and functions depending on the context, but when using it as a preposition, it means “to” or “towards” an object or target.

S + 對对 + Object + Verb

她tā對duì我wǒ說shuō， 我wǒ是shì笨蛋bèndàn她tā对duì我wǒ说shuō， 我wǒ是shì笨蛋bèndàn
She told me I’m a fool.

每次měicì我的wǒde狗gǒu對duì空氣kōngqì大dà叫jiào， 我wǒ都dōu很hěn害怕hàipà每次měicì我的wǒde狗gǒu对duì空气kōngqì大dà叫jiào， 我wǒ都dōu很hěn害怕hàipà
Every time my dog barks at the air, I get scared.

孩子háizi對duì老師lǎoshī笑xiào孩子háizi对duì老师lǎoshī笑xiào
The child smiled at the teacher.

你nǐ對duì海鮮hǎixiān過敏guòmǐn嗎ma？ 你nǐ对duì海鲜hǎixiān过敏guòmǐn吗ma？
Are you allergic to seafood?

她tā對duì公司gōngsī有yǒu很hěn多duō不滿bùmǎn她tā对duì公司gōngsī有yǒu很hěn多duō不满bùmǎn
She has a lot of dissatisfaction with the company.

S + 對对 + Object + Adjective

男朋友nánpéngyǒu對duì我wǒ很hěn好hǎo男朋友nánpéngyou对duì我wǒ很hěn好hǎo
My boyfriend treats me well.

加拿大jiānádà人rén對duì人rén很hěn客氣kèqì加拿大jiānádà人rén对duì人rén很hěn客气kèqi
Canadians are polite to others.

我wǒ對duì沒有méiyǒu很hěn多duō錢qián的de工作gōngzuò沒méi耐心nàixīn我wǒ对duì没有méiyǒu很hěn多duō钱qián的de工作gōngzuò没méi耐心nàixīn
I am not patient with jobs that don’t pay well.

我wǒ對duì名牌míngpái包bāo沒méi興趣xīngqù我wǒ对duì名牌míngpái包bāo没méi兴趣xīngqù
I am not interested in luxury handbags.

你nǐ不bù覺得juéde小王Xiǎowáng對duì小美Xiǎoměi有yǒu意思yìsi嗎ma？ 你nǐ不bù觉得juéde小王Xiǎowáng对duì小美Xiǎoměi有yǒu意思yìsi吗ma？
Don’t you think Xiao Wang has feelings for Xiao Mei?

我的wǒde父母fùmǔ對duì我wǒ很hěn失望shīwàng我的wǒde父母fùmǔ对duì我wǒ很hěn失望shīwàng
My parents are very disappointed in me.

我wǒ對duìTiffany 的de課kè很hěn滿意mǎnyì我wǒ对duìTiffany 的de课kè很hěn满意mǎnyì
I am satisfied with Tiffany’s class.

給给 gěi

In Chinese, 給给 gěi also have various meanings and functions depending on the context, but when using it as a preposition, it means “to” or “for” an object or target.

S + 給给 + Object + Verb Phrase

我wǒ要yào給gěi我wǒ家人jiārén打dǎ電話diànhuà我wǒ要yào给gěi我wǒ家人jiārén打dǎ电话diànhuà
I want to call my family.

她的tāde生日shēngrì快kuài到dào了le， 你nǐ要yào給gěi她tā送sòng什麼shénme禮物lǐwù？ 她的tāde生日shēngrì快kuài到dào了le， 你nǐ要yào给gěi她tā送sòng什么shénme礼物lǐwù？
Her birthday is coming soon. What gift do you want to give her?

台北táiběi朋友péngyǒu給gěi我wǒ介紹jièshào了le超chāo好吃hǎochī的de湯包tāngbāo台北táiběi朋友péngyǒu给gěi我wǒ介绍jièshào了le超chāo好吃hǎochī的de汤包tāngbāo 🤩
A friend from Taipei introduced me to a supper yummy soup dumpling.

我wǒ給gěi大家dàjiā照zhào張zhāng相xiāng吧ba我wǒ给gěi大家dàjiā照zhào张zhāng相xiāng吧ba
Let’s take a photo together.

我wǒ想xiǎng給gěi你nǐ過guò生日shēngrì我wǒ想xiǎng给gěi你nǐ过guò生日shēngrì
I want to celebrate your birthday.

你nǐ給gěi我們wǒmen推薦tuījiàn幾jǐ道dào好吃hǎochī的de菜cài吧ba你nǐ给gěi我们wǒmen推荐tuījiàn几jī道dào好吃hǎochī的de菜cài吧ba
Can you recommend some delicious dishes to us?

我wǒ還沒háiméi給gěi她tā匯huì這個月zhègeyuè的de錢qián我wǒ还没háiméi给gěi她tā汇huì这个月zhègeyuè的de钱qián
I haven’t sent her the money for this month yet.

S + Verb Phrase + 給给 + Object

This structure can only be used when 給 gěi means “to,” and it is commonly used in Taiwan and some southern parts of China.

我wǒ要yào打dǎ電話diànhuà給gěi我wǒ家人jiārén我wǒ要yào打dǎ电话diànhuà给gěi我wǒ家人jiārén
I want to call my family.

你nǐ要yào送sòng什麼shénme禮物lǐwù給gěi她tā？ 你nǐ要yào送sòng什么shénme礼物lǐwù给gěi她tā？
What gift do you want to give her?

我wǒ還沒háiméi匯huì這個月zhègeyuè的de錢qián給gěi她tā我wǒ还没háiméi汇huì这个月zhègeyuè的de钱qián给gěi她tā
I haven’t sent her the money for this month yet.

Practice

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✔️ Do you want me to buy you a cup of coffee?

要yào我wǒ給gěi你nǐ買mǎi杯bēi咖啡kāfēi嗎ma？ 要yào我wǒ给gěi你nǐ买mǎi杯bēi咖啡kāfēi吗ma？

✔️ Parents must take responsibility for their children’s behavior.

父母fùmǔ必須bìxū對duì孩子háizi的de行為xíngwéi負責fùzé父母fùmǔ必须bìxū对duì孩子háizi的de行为xíngwéi负责fùzé

✔️ Are you interested in learning Chinese?

你nǐ對duì學xué中文zhōngwén感gǎn興趣xīngqù嗎ma？ 你nǐ对duì学习xuéxí汉语hànyǔ感gǎn兴趣xīngqù吗ma？