Chinese Preposition – 给 gěi

Grammar Point:
The Chinese preposition 給给 gěi is often used to indicate the recipient of an action, similar to “for” or “to” in English.

Structure

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 gěi + 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 gěi + 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 mon