Usage note
“给”表示把东西交给别人，也可以表示为别人做某事。
“gěi” biǎoshì bǎ dōngxi jiāo gěi biérén, yě kěyǐ biǎoshì wèi biérén zuò mǒu shì.
It means to hand something to someone, or to do something for someone.
Context note
当你想把东西送给别人，或者帮别人做事情时，可以用“给”这个字。它常常用在日常生活中的分享和帮助场景里。
dāng nǐ xiǎng bǎ dōngxi sòng gěi biérén, huòzhě bāng biérén zuò shìqíng shí, kěyǐ yòng “gěi” zhège zì. tā chángcháng yòng zài rìcháng shēnghuó zhōng de fēnxiǎng hé bāngzhù chǎngjǐng lǐ.
Use this word when you want to give something to someone or do something for them. It often appears in everyday situations about sharing and helping.
5 examples
我给他一本书
Wǒ gěi tā yí běn shū
I gave him a book.
这是给你的礼物
Zhè shì gěi nǐ de lǐwù
This is a gift for you.
妈妈给你买了一个玩具
Māma gěi nǐ mǎi le yīgè wánshǒu
Mom bought you a toy.
我给他讲了个故事
Wǒ gěi tā jiǎng le gè gùshi
I told him a story.
给爷爷买点水果
Gěi lǎoyé mǎi diǎn shuǐguǒ
Buy some fruit for Grandpa.
5 mini stories
妈妈给我一个红苹果。我高兴地说谢谢。
Māma gěi wǒ yī gè hóng píngguǒ. Wǒ gāoxìng de shuō xièxie.
Mom gave me a red apple. I happily said thank you.
在教室里，小明递给老师一支粉笔。老师微笑着接过去。
Zài jiàoshì lǐ, Xiǎomíng dì gěi lǎoshī yī zhī fěnbǐ. Lǎoshī wēixiào zhe jiē guòqù.
In the classroom, Xiaoming handed a piece of chalk to the teacher. The teacher smiled and took it.
爸爸给我买了一个新书包。它是蓝色的，上面有小星星。
Bàba gěi wǒ mǎi le yī gè xīn shūbāo. Tā shì lánsè de, shàngmiàn yǒu xiǎo xīngxīng.
Dad bought me a new schoolbag. It is blue with little stars on it.
我给小花猫倒了一碗牛奶。它低头喝得很快。
Wǒ gěi xiǎo huāmāo dào le yī wǎn niúnǎi. Tā dītóu hē de hěn kuài.
I poured a bowl of milk for the little calico cat. It lowered its head and drank quickly.
奶奶给我讲了一个有趣的故事。我听完开心地笑了。
Nǎinai gěi wǒ jiǎng le yī gè yǒuqù de gùshi. Wǒ tīng wán kāixīn de xiào le.
Grandma told me an interesting story. I smiled happily after hearing it.
Mini dialogue
请给我一杯水
A
请给我一杯水，好吗？
Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ, hǎo ma?
Please give me a glass of water, okay?
B
好的，给你。
Hǎo de, gěi nǐ.
Okay, here you are.
给妈妈看画
A
你画了什么？给我看看。
Nǐ huà le shénme? Gěi wǒ kànkan.
What did you draw? Show me (give me a look).
B
我画了一只小猫，想给妈妈看。
Wǒ huà le yī zhī xiǎo māo, xiǎng gěi māma kàn.
I drew a little cat and want to show it to Mom.
Related words and contrasts
similar
送
sòng
to give (as a gift)
送 is used when giving a present, while 给 is more general.
opposite
收
shōu
to receive
收 means to receive, the opposite action of giving.