Chinese for English speakers Hospital · Lesson 4

The preposizion 给

Chinese 给 as verb/preposition — 也许您着凉了 (Maybe you caught a cold) — and 给 for receiving things.

Conversation

  1. Bolin Bolin

    也许您着凉了。

    yě xǔ nín zháo liáng le.

    Probably you have just caught a cold.

    Tip: 着凉 <zháoliáng> = to catch a cold

  2. Muri Muri

    要吃药吗？

    yào chī yào ma?

    Shall I take a medicine?

    Tip: 吃药 <chīyào> = to take a medicine

  3. Bolin Bolin

    我给您开药。

    wǒ gěi nín kāi yào.

    I'll prescribe a medicine to you.

    Tip: 给 <gěi> = to give 给 <gěi> + person + verb = to do something for someone 开药 <kāiyào> = to prescribe a medicine

  4. Bolin Bolin

    请您每天吃一次。

    qǐng nín měi tiān chī yí cì.

    Please take it once a day.

    Tip: 每天 <měitiān> = every day 次<cì> = counter for times (once, twice...)

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does 给 do in Chinese?

Two uses: 1) Verb 'to give': 给我书 = 'give me a book'. 2) Preposition 'to/for': 给我打电话 = 'call me'.

What is 着凉?

'Catch a cold'. 着 (encounter) + 凉 (cold). 我着凉了 = 'I caught a cold'. Common Chinese saying.

Chinese for taking medicine?

吃药 (eat medicine) — Chinese says 'eat' medicine. 吃药吗? = 'shall I take medicine?'.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Chinese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.