Indirect Object Marker 给 gěi

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, “給给 gěi” isn’t just used to mean “to give.” It also works like a bridge between the action and the person who receives that action. We call this person the indirect object. When 给 gěi is used this way, it’s called an Indirect Object Marker — it shows who you’re doing something for or to.

Structure

S + V + 給给 gěi + Recipient + Direct Object

This is a very natural and common spoken structure. It emphasizes who is receiving the object.

爸爸bàba想xiǎng送sòng給gěi弟弟dìdi一yì隻zhī狗gǒu爸爸bàba想xiǎng送sòng给gěi弟弟dìdi一yì只zhǐ狗gǒu
Dad wants to give a dog to my younger brother.

老闆lǎobǎn沒méi付fù給gěi我wǒ這個zhège月yuè的de薪水xīnshuǐ老板lǎobǎn没méi付fù给gěi我wǒ这个zhège月yuè的de薪水xīnshuǐ
The boss didn’t pay me this month’s salary.

他tā租zū給gěi外國人wàiguórén這個zhège房子fángzi嗎ma？ 他tā租zū给gěi外国人wàiguórén这个zhège房子fángzi吗ma？
Did he rent this house to a foreigner?

我wǒ拿ná給gěi外婆wàipó一yì杯bēi茶chá我wǒ拿ná给gěi外婆wàipó一yì杯bēi茶chá
I brought a cup of tea to my grandma.

學生xuéshēng交jiāo給gěi老師lǎoshī他們tāmen的de作業zuòyè学生xuéshēng交jiāo给gěi老师lǎoshī他们tāmen的de作业zuòyè
The students handed their homework to the teacher.

S + V + Direct Object + 給给 gěi + Recipient

This is also correct, and common in everyday speech. It emphasizes the object more than the recipient.

爸爸bàba想xiǎng送sòng一隻yìzhī狗gǒu給gěi弟弟dìdi爸爸bàba想xiǎng送sòng一只yìzhǐ狗gǒu给gěi弟弟dìdi
Dad wants to give a dog to my younger brother.

老闆lǎobǎn沒méi付fù這個zhège月yuè的de薪水xīnshuǐ給gěi我wǒ老板lǎobǎn没méi付fù这个zhège月yuè的de薪水xīnshuǐ给gěi我wǒ
The boss didn’t pay this month’s salary to me.

他tā租zū這個zhège房子fángzi給gěi外國人wàiguórén嗎ma? 他tā租zū这个zhège房子fángzi给gěi外国人wàiguórén吗ma?
Did he rent this house to a foreigner?

你nǐ拿ná那些nàxiē巧克力qiǎokèlì給gěi你nǐ女朋友nǚpéngyǒu了le沒有méiyǒu？ 你nǐ拿ná那些nàxiē巧克力qiǎokèlì给gěi你nǐ女朋友nǚpéngyǒu了le没有méiyǒu？
Did you give those chocolates to your girlfriend or not?

我wǒ不要búyào賣mài這個zhège手機shǒujī給gěi我wǒ朋友péngyǒu我wǒ不要búyào卖mài这个zhège手机shǒujī给gěi我wǒ朋友péngyou
I don’t want to sell this phone to my friend.

Direct Object，S + V + 給给 gěi + Recipient

This is a topicalized sentence, where the object comes first for emphasis.
It’s common in spoken Mandarin, but the object must be something both the speaker and the listener are familiar with.

一yì隻zhī狗gǒu， 爸爸bàba想xiǎng送sòng給gěi弟弟dìdi一yì只zhǐ狗gǒu， 爸爸bàba想xiǎng送sòng给gěi弟弟dìdi ❌
Dad wants to give a dog to my younger brother.
(The object must be something specific.)

這zhè隻zhī狗gǒu， 爸爸bàba想xiǎng送sòng給gěi弟弟dìdi这zhè只zhǐ狗gǒu， 爸爸bàba想xiǎng送sòng给gěi弟弟dìdi ✅
Dad wants to give a dog to my younger brother.

這個zhège月yuè的de薪水xīnshuǐ， 老闆lǎobǎn沒méi付fù給gěi我wǒ这个zhège月yuè的de薪水xīnshuǐ， 老板lǎobǎn没méi付fù给gěi我wǒ
The boss didn’t pay this month’s salary to me.

這個zhège房子fángzi， 他tā租zū給gěi外國人wàiguórén嗎ma？ 这个zhège房子fángzi， 他tā租zū给gěi外国人wàiguórén吗ma？
Did he rent this house to a foreigner?

我wǒ準備zhǔnbèi的de禮物lǐwù， 你nǐ送sòng給gěi她tā了le沒有méiyǒu？ 我wǒ准备zhǔnbèi的de礼物lǐwù， 你nǐ送sòng给gěi她tā了le没有méiyǒu？
Did you give her the gift I prepared?

這些zhèxiē咖啡kāfēi， 我wǒ打算dǎsuàn拿ná給gěi王wáng先生xiānshēng这些zhèxiē咖啡kāfēi， 我wǒ打算dǎsuàn拿ná给gěi王wáng先生xiānsheng
I plan to give these coffees to Mr. Wang.