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How to say “for someone” in Chinese with 给 and 为

给 (gěi) + Recipient + Verb (transfer) / 为 (wèi) + Beneficiary + Verb (for the sake of)

给 (gěi) vs 为 (wéi) — for someone's benefit

HSK 5Prepositions

Rule structure

给 (gěi) introduces the recipient of an action, often physical transfer. 为 (wèi) introduces the beneficiary, often emotional or abstract.

Examples

我给你买了礼物。 / 我为你骄傲。

Wǒ gěi nǐ mǎi le lǐwù. / Wǒ wèi nǐ jiāo'ào.

I bought you a gift. / I’m proud of you.

Practice

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Frequently asked questions

How do you say “for someone's benefit” in Chinese with 给 vs 为?

Use the structure: 给 (gěi) + Recipient + Verb (transfer) / 为 (wèi) + Beneficiary + Verb (for the sake of). For example: 我给你买了礼物。 / 我为你骄傲。 — “I bought you a gift. / I’m proud of you.”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

我给你买了礼物。 / 我为你骄傲。 — “I bought you a gift. / I’m proud of you.”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.

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More HSK 5 grammar rules

就 — only, just

就 (jiù) + Measure Word / Noun (only, just)

包括 — including with 在内

包括 (bāokuò) + X + 在内 (zàinèi), Group + 都 (dōu) + Verb

朝 vs 向 vs 往 — direction prepositions

朝 (cháo) / 向 (xiàng) / 往 (wǎng) + Direction + Verb

对 vs 对于 — to, regarding

对 (duì) + Person + Verb / 对于 (duìyú) + Topic + Verb

对于 vs 至于 — as for, regarding

对于 (duìyú) + Topic (focus) / 至于 (zhìyú) + Topic (transition)

凭 — on the basis of

凭 (píng) + Noun + Verb

自从 — ever since

自从 (zìcóng) + Event, Subj. + 就 (jiù) / 一直 (yìzhí) + Verb

对 — for… with 而言

对 (duì) / 对于 (duìyú) + Topic + 而言 (ér yán)