给
gěi
Expressing "for" with "gei"
给 before the verb marks who an action is done for.
Subj. + 给 + Recipient + Verb Phrase
How it works
妈妈在给孩子们做饭 — mum is cooking for the kids. The 给 phrase goes before the verb, like every other preposition phrase in Chinese.
As a full verb 给 means "to give": 给我一杯水.
Examples
mā ma zài gěi hái zi men zuò fàn
妈妈在给孩子们做饭。
Mum is cooking for the kids.
wǒ gěi nǐ mǎi le lǐ wù
我给你买了礼物。
I bought you a present.
tā gěi wǒ men chàng le yì shǒu gē
他给我们唱了一首歌。
He sang us a song.