Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English
给
gěi, jǐ
Description
"给"最常用来表示把东西交给别人，比如说"给我一本书"。
"给" is most commonly used to indicate handing something to someone, for example, "给我一本书" (give me a book).
它也可以放在动作前面，表示做这件事的对象。
It can also be placed before an action to indicate the recipient of that action.
Meanings
给gěi
to give something to someone
请给我一杯水。
Please give me a glass of water.
给gěi
for; to (marks the person acted upon)
我给妈妈打电话。
I am calling mom.
给jǐ
to supply; to provide (formal)
这家公司给员工发工资。
This company pays its employees.
Related words
Notes
- Nuance
as a preposition 给 marks the recipient, like English "for" or "to".
- Etymology
reading jǐ appears mostly in formal compounds like 供给 and 给予.
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