Answers to The Difference between “给 (gěi)” “跟 (gēn)” and “和(hé)”

Correct Answer: B
“给(gěi)”
In the Chinese language, “给(gěi)” is most frequently used as the verb “to give.”
Example
Gěi wǒ yìbēi chá.
给   我   一杯 茶。
Please give me a cup of tea.

But in phrases such as, “给你打电话 (gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà) give you a call,” “给他写信 (gěi tā xiěxìn) write to him,” etc, “给(gěi)” is used as a preposition meaning “to; for” and the structure is:
Subject + “给(gěi)” + … + Verb
In this structure, the action is produced by the subject and here “给 (gěi)” is used to introduce the recipient of the action.
Examples
Linda:  Nǐ  zěnme zhème jǐnzhāng?
Linda:你 怎么     这么     紧张?
Linda: Why are you so nervous?

Zhāng Míng: Yīnwèi wǒ yào gěi lǐngdǎo huìbào gōngzuò.
张           明:因为    我   要   给  领导     汇报     工作。
Zhang Ming: I need to report my job to my leader.

Wǒ gěi nǐ chàng shǒu gē ba!
我   给  你  唱      首     歌 吧!
Let me sing a song for you!

“跟(gēn)” & “和()”
In the Chinese language, “跟 (gēn)” can be used as a verb meaning “to follow.”

Example
Gēn wǒ lái!
跟     我 来!
Follow me!

But when it is used as a conjunction, “跟 (gēn)” shares the same meaning and usage with “和 (),” which means “and.”
The structure is: A + 跟(gēn)/和() + B
But “跟(gēn)” is usually used more often in spoken Chinese.
Examples
July gēn/hé Cindy shì shuāngbāotāi.
July 跟/和    Cindy 是   双胞胎。
July and Cindy are twin sisters.

Jim gēn/hé Zhào Wěi zhèngzài dǎ lánqiú
Jim 跟/和    赵      伟   正在         打 篮球。
Jim and Zhao Wei are playing basketball.

Both “跟 (gēn)” and “和 ()” can be used as prepositions meaning “with” or “together with.”
The structure is: Subject1 + 跟(gēn)/和()+ Subject1 + Verb
We can use the structure to express “doing something with somebody.”
Examples
David:   Nǐ néng gēn/hé wǒ qù yīyuàn ma?
David:你 能      跟/和    我  去 医院     吗?
David: Can you go to the hospital with me?

Lǐ Píng: Hǎo de.
李   萍:好 的。
Li Ping: Okay.

Tā xiǎng gēn/hé fùmǔ zhù zài yìqǐ.
她  想      跟/和    父母  住   在 一起。
She wants to live with her parents.

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0 thoughts on “Answers to The Difference between “给 (gěi)” “跟 (gēn)” and “和(hé)””

  1. DEAR … I AM A BEGINNER AND TRYING TO LEARN CHINESE BY MYSELF THROUGH INTERNET AND ONLINE .YOUR QUESTIONS ARE VERY USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE . I FOLLOW THEM CONSTANTLY AND HAVE LEARNED LOTS OF THINGS… . WITH REGARDS

  2. Bymyself Learning

    我给他写一封信。
    我给他发一封信。
    我给他打电话。

    Are these sentences correct ? And why is 给 the only option here ?

    1. jennifer.zhu

      Yes, the three sentences are all correct. The character “给” here is used as a preposition meaning “to,for”. The structure is “Subject+’给’+…+ Verb“ . In this structure, the action is produced by the subject and “给”is used to introduce the recipient of the action. In the sentence “我给他打电话”, the subject is “我”, and “给” here is used as a preposition to introduce the recipient of the action “他”.

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