Skip to main content

给 (gěi) — Basic Giving and Indirect Objects

给 (gěi) means "to give" and sits between the giver and the receiver, with the person always placed before the thing. In this HSK 1 speaking lesson, you'll practice the pattern 给 (gěi) — Basic Giving and Indirect Objects in real conversation with AI teacher Mei Lin.

How the pattern works

The structure is simple: Subject + 给 + Person + Object. The giver comes first, then 给, then who receives, then what they receive.

Example: 他给我一本书 (tā gěi wǒ yì běn shū) — He gave me a book.

You can also use it to request something politely: 请给我菜单 (qǐng gěi wǒ càidān) — Please give me the menu.

The key sentence for this lesson is 请给我一杯水 (qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ) — Please give me a glass of water. Notice that the person (我) always comes before the thing (一杯水). If you swap them, the sentence stops making sense.

What you'll practice in the live lesson

This is a live voice conversation — you talk out loud with Mei Lin in real time, not type. Each lesson targets one grammar pattern and takes about 10 minutes. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level.

In this lesson, titled Giving and Requesting, you'll ask someone for what you need and describe who gave something to whom. You'll use 给 (gěi) in both directions — offering something to someone and requesting something from someone — until the word order feels natural.

Afterward, you can reinforce the characters with the free printable Chinese worksheet generator. For more grammar at this level, visit the HSK 1 lessons hub page. You can also continue with another HSK 1 live lesson on friendly suggestions with 吧 (ba) or try another HSK 1 live lesson on affirmative-negative questions.

Frequently asked questions

What does 给 (gěi) mean in Chinese?

给 (gěi) means "to give" and functions as both a verb and a preposition. In the pattern Basic Giving and Indirect Objects, it sits between the giver and the receiver, always with the person before the thing: Subject + 给 + person + thing.

How long is the Giving and Requesting lesson?

Each live conversation lesson focuses on one grammar pattern and takes roughly 10 minutes. In this lesson you practice 给 (gěi) by speaking out loud with Mei Lin, who corrects you in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level.

Can I try this lesson for free?

Yes — the first lesson can be tried free, and no credit card is required to start talking. You'll have a live voice conversation with Mei Lin practicing 给 (gěi) and the Basic Giving and Indirect Objects pattern.

What is the word order for 给 sentences?

The structure is Subject + 给 + Person + Object. For example, 他给我一本书 (tā gěi wǒ yì běn shū) means "He gave me a book." The person (我) always comes before the thing (一本书). Swapping them breaks the sentence.

Loading...
Learn Chinese with SayMei Chinese Courses (HSK 1-6) Free Chinese Lessons Chinese Grammar Lessons Chinese Vocabulary Lessons Learn Chinese Through Music Browse Mandarin Lesson Songs Chinese Listening Practice Chinese Speaking Practice Create a Custom Chinese Dialogue Free Chinese Learning Tools Chinese Flashcards HSK 1 Lessons HSK 2 Lessons HSK 3 Lessons Pricing Meet Mei Lin About SayMei Contact Us What's New Privacy Policy Cookie Policy