给 (gěi) - to give & to provide

给Tone 3

gěi ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

给 · gěi

to give;

to provide;

to supply;

for;

by;

used to indicate the passive voice or the recipient of an action.

to giveto provideto supply

Usage highlights

to giveto provideto supplyto give backto give toto give out

Synonyms

  • 予— to give (formal)
  • 赠— to give as a gift
  • 供— to supply
  • 献— to offer

Antonyms

  • 取— to take
  • 收— to receive
  • 夺— to seize

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please give me the book (给我书).
  • The teacher gave us homework (老师给我们作业).
  • This gift is for you (这个礼物是给你的).
  • The house was cleaned by him (房子被他给打扫了).

Collocations

  • to give(给)
  • to provide(供给)
  • to supply(供应给)
  • to give back(还给)
  • to give to(给以)
  • to give out(发给)

Idioms

  • To give timely assistance(雪中送炭)
  • To give a warning by example(杀鸡给猴看)
  • To give someone face(给面子)
  • To give way(给让路)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, giving and receiving gifts follows specific etiquette, often refusing initially to show humility.
  • The character 给 is commonly used in daily conversations to express giving, providing, or indicating the recipient.
  • It is also used in the passive voice structure, similar to 'by' in English passive sentences.

FAQ