How to write 给 (gěi, “to”)

给, an HSK 1 character, is read gěi for “to” and “for”, and also jǐ (“to supply”). The traditional form is 給, 12 strokes instead of 9. On its own it is an HSK 1 word; it also forms 供给 (“to furnish”), 补给 (“supply”) and 分给 (“to divide (and give to others)”). Japanese keeps the traditional 給, read kyuu (“salary”).

Pinyin: gěi, jǐ
Strokes: 9
HSK: 1
Radical: 纟 (“silk thread”)
Traditional: 給

Stroke by stroke

As a left-right character it splits into 纟 (“silk thread”, the radical), strokes 1–3; 合 (“together”), strokes 4–9, written the left part first.

top leftdown and left → rightwards
top leftdown and left → rightwards
bottom leftup and right
topdown and left
topdown and right → rightwards
centerrightwards
centerdownwards
centerrightwards → downwards
bottomrightwards

Names of the strokes

Traditional form

Simplified: 给 · 9 strokes
Traditional: 給 · 12 strokes · see its strokes

Simplified vs traditional

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Pinyin and meaning

Pinyin	Meanings	Traditional	In words
gěi third tone	to; for; for the benefit of; to give; to allow	給	分给给以还给给面子
jǐ third tone	(bound form) to supply; to provide; (literary) sufficient; abundant	給	供给补给给事给水

HSK 2025 syllabus: level 1
2021 standard: level 1
HSK 2.0: in a level 2 word
Words with it: 51 in CC-CEDICT

Words with 给

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
给給	gěi	to; for HSK 1
供给供給	gōngjǐ	to furnish; to provide HSK 6
补给補給	bǔjǐ	supply; replenishment HSK 7-9
分给分給	fēngěi	to divide (and give to others)
给事給事	jǐshì	the name of an official position in the imperial court, aka 给事中…
给以給以	gěiyǐ	to give; to grant
给水給水	jǐshuǐ	to supply water; to provide feedwater
还给還給	huángěi	to return sth to sb
给面子給面子	gěimiànzi	to show deference or praise publicly
还给老师還給老師	huángěilǎoshī	to forget (everything one has learned)

HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).

Practice sheet

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HSK 1, in list order: