给

給

gěi, jǐ

合 + 纟

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

gěi (verb) to give; to provide; to allow

gěi (preposition) to; for; for the benefit of

jǐ (verb) to supply; to provide

Etymology

Simplified form of 給. Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 合 represents the sound.

Semantic: 纟 Phonetic: 合

About

给, the simplified form of 給, is a phono-semantic compound: 纟 (silk) suggests the meaning, and 合 (hé, "to join") indicates the sound. The silk radical points to supplying materials or provisions, a sense preserved in the formal reading jǐ ("to supply" or "grant"). In everyday use, it is pronounced gěi and works as the common verb "give" or "allow", and as a preposition marking the recipient of an action.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Seal Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他给我一本书。

Tā gěi wǒ yī běn shū.

He gives me a book.

请给我一杯水。

Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ.

Please give me a glass of water.

妈妈给我做了晚饭。

Māma gěi wǒ zuò le wǎnfàn.

Mom made dinner for me.

我给你发了一封电子邮件。

Wǒ gěi nǐ fā le yī fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn.

I sent you an email.

老师给我们布置了很多作业。

Lǎoshī gěi wǒmen bùzhì le hěnduō zuòyè.

The teacher assigned us a lot of homework.

他把礼物给我了。

Tā bǎ lǐwù gěi wǒ le.

He gave the gift to me.

这个问题给我带来了很多麻烦。

Zhège wèntí gěi wǒ dàilái le hěnduō máfan.

This problem has brought me a lot of trouble.

政府给贫困家庭提供了援助。

Zhèngfǔ gěi pínkùn jiātíng tígōng le yuánzhù.

The government provided assistance to poor families.

Related Characters

Component: 合

Component: 纟

给