給 gěi给 gěi doesn’t just mean “to give.” Placed right after a verb, it works as a bridge between the action and the person who receives it: give to, pay to, rent to, hand to. That person is called the indirect object.
一 V + 給给 + Recipient + Object
Subject + Verb + 給给 + Recipient + Object
Verb + 給 gěi给 gěi works like one unit, followed by the person and then the thing. This order puts the focus on who receives it. Common verbs:
The students handed their homework in to the teacher.
二 V + Object + 給给 + Recipient
Subject + Verb + Object + 給给 + Recipient
You can also put the thing first and 給 gěi给 gěi + person at the end. This is just as common in speech, and puts a bit more focus on the object.
爸爸想送一隻只狗給给弟弟
Dad wants to give a dog to my little brother.
老闆老板沒没付這個这个月的薪水給给我
My boss didn’t pay this month’s salary to me.
他租這個这个房子給给外國人外国人嗎吗？
Is he renting this house to a foreigner?
你拿那些巧克力給给你女朋友女朋友了沒有没有？
Did you give those chocolates to your girlfriend or not?
我不要賣卖這個这个手機手机給给我朋友朋友
I don’t want to sell this phone to my friend.
三 Object First (Topic)
Object，Subject + Verb + 給给 + Recipient
In speech, the object often moves to the very front as the topic. This only works when the object is something specific that both speakers know (this dog, my gift…).
這这隻只狗，爸爸想送給给弟弟
This dog, Dad wants to give to my little brother.
這個这个月的薪水，老闆老板沒没付給给我
This month’s salary, my boss hasn’t paid me.
我準備准备的禮物礼物，你送給给她了沒有没有？
The gift I got ready, did you give it to her?
這些这些咖啡，我打算拿給给王先生先生
These coffees, I’m planning to give to Mr. Wang.
四 V + 給给 vs. 給给 + V
Compare this with the preposition 給给, which goes before the verb.
V + 給给 · indirect object marker
我送給给他一本書书
I gave him a book. (The book goes to him.)
給给 + person + V · preposition
我給给他打電話电话
I’m calling him. / I’m doing it for him.
五 Common Mistakes
❌ 一隻只狗，爸爸想送給给弟弟
✅ 這这隻只狗，爸爸想送給给弟弟
A topic at the front must be something specific, like “this dog,” not “a dog.”
❌ 爸爸送弟弟給给一隻只狗
✅ 爸爸送給给弟弟一隻只狗
給 gěi给 gěi goes right after the verb, before the person.
❌ 老闆老板付給给我沒没薪水
✅ 老闆老板沒没付給给我薪水
The negative goes before the verb.
六 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
