Definitions

gěi (verb) to give; to provide; to allow
gěi (preposition) to; for; for the benefit of
(verb) to supply; to provide

Etymology

Pictograph of an old person with long hair bent over and leaning on a cane.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 给, derived from its traditional counterpart 給, is etymologically composed of the silk radical alongside the phonetic element 合, a structure that initially conveyed concepts of provision or sufficiency, likely linked to the idea of binding or connecting resources. Its semantic range gradually broadened from denoting adequacy or the act of supplying to encompassing the general action of giving, and in modern usage, it functions both as a verb meaning to grant or hand over and as a preposition indicating direction or benefit. The simplified form preserves the phonetic component while modifying the radical, yet the character's historical development from a term focused on fulfillment to a multifaceted grammatical marker remains integral to its identity.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我一本书。

Tā gěi wǒ yī běn shū.

He gives me a book.

我一杯水。

Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ.

Please give me a glass of water.

妈妈我做了晚饭。

Māma gěi wǒ zuò le wǎnfàn.

Mom made dinner for me.

你发了一封电子邮件。

Wǒ gěi nǐ fā le yī fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn.

I sent you an email.

老师我们布置了很多作业。

Lǎoshī gěi wǒmen bùzhì le hěnduō zuòyè.

The teacher assigned us a lot of homework.

他把礼物我了。

Tā bǎ lǐwù gěi wǒ le.

He gave the gift to me.

这个问题我带来了很多麻烦。

Zhège wèntí gěi wǒ dàilái le hěnduō máfan.

This problem has brought me a lot of trouble.

政府贫困家庭提供了援助。

Zhèngfǔ gěi pínkùn jiātíng tígōng le yuánzhù.

The government provided assistance to poor families.