When do I use 给 vs 送?

Use 给 for general giving (handing something over) and as a preposition. Use 送 when you are giving a gift, delivering something, or seeing someone off. If in doubt, 给 is usually safer.

Can I use 送 and 给 together in one sentence?

Yes. For example, 送给她 (sòng gěi tā) combines 送 (to give as a gift/deliver) with 给 (to) to emphasize the action of giving to a recipient. This is common.

Is 送 always more polite than 给?

Not exactly. 送 adds a sense of generosity or service, so in gift-giving contexts it is more appropriate. But for neutral requests like 'give me that', 送 would sound odd. Politeness depends on context.

How do I say 'to see someone off'? Can I use 给?

No, only 送 means 'see off' (送人 sòng rén). 给 never has this meaning. For example, 我去送他 is correct; 我去给他 is wrong.

Easily confusedHSK 1

给 vs 送 (gěi vs sòng): general giving vs gifting/delivering/seeing off

给 (gěi) is the general verb for 'to give' and also serves as a preposition meaning 'to' or 'for'. 送 (sòng) is used specifically for giving presents, delivering items, or seeing someone off. The key difference is that 送 implies a deliberate, often generous transfer or accompaniment, while 给 covers all other giving scenarios.

The verbs 给 and 送 both can translate to 'give' in English, but they occupy different semantic territory. 给 is the neutral, all-purpose verb for transferring possession to someone, and it doubles as a preposition indicating the recipient. 送 is more specific: it is used for presenting gifts (often in a ceremonial or generous way), for delivering physical items to a destination, and for accompanying someone as they leave. When in doubt, 给 is the safer choice for simple transfers; 送 adds a layer of intentionality, warmth, or service.

Wann man was verwendet

给gěi

to give / to / for

Use 给 for all general acts of giving, such as handing something to someone, providing something, or doing something for someone. It is also the most common preposition to mark the recipient (e.g., 'I bought this for you'). 给 never implies a gift or delivery context on its own.

给 can be used in double-object constructions: 给我一本书 (gěi wǒ yī běn shū 'give me a book'). As a preposition, it introduces the beneficiary or recipient.

送sòng

to give (a gift) / to deliver / to see off

Use 送 specifically when you are giving a present or gift, delivering an item to a place, or accompanying someone as they leave (e.g., to a station). It carries connotations of thoughtfulness, ceremony, or service that 给 lacks. Unlike 给, 送 cannot be used as a general preposition for 'to/for'.

送 can also mean 'to send' in the sense of dispatching (e.g., 送信 sòng xìn 'deliver a letter') or 'to see someone off' (e.g., 送朋友 sòng péngyou 'see off a friend'). It often implies movement to a destination.

Auf einen Blick

	给	送
Core meaning	general transfer of possession	gift-giving, delivery, or seeing off
Prepositional use	Yes - 'to/for' marker	No - cannot be a preposition
Implies generosity or ceremony?	No	Yes
Double-object construction	Common (e.g., 给我书)	Less common (e.g., 送我礼物 is fine but 送书 is usually 'deliver books')
Can mean 'to see off'?	No	Yes

Beispiele

给
请给我一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give me a glass of water.
General giving, no gift context.
送
我送了她一束花。
Wǒ sòng le tā yí shù huā.
I gave her a bouquet of flowers (as a gift).
Gift-giving situation; 给 would sound like a neutral transfer, not a present.
给
我给她买了一本书。
Wǒ gěi tā mǎi le yì běn shū.
I bought a book for her.
Here 给 is a preposition marking the recipient, not a verb.
送
我明天送你去机场。
Wǒ míng tiān sòng nǐ qù jī chǎng.
I will see you off to the airport tomorrow.
Seeing off, not giving an object.
送
请把这个文件送给经理。
Qǐng bǎ zhè ge wén jiàn sòng gěi jīng lǐ.
Please deliver this document to the manager.
送 as 'deliver' + 给 as preposition; together they emphasize transfer to a destination.
给
✗我送他一本书。
✗ Wǒ sòng tā yì běn shū.
I give him a book.
✗ If the book is not a gift, use 给 instead. 送 sounds like a present or delivery.

Häufige Fehler

Using 送 for a simple handover that is not a gift: e.g., 送我一杯水 should be 给我一杯水.
Using 给 for a gift-giving situation in a formal context: e.g., 我给她一束花 as a gift sounds neutral; 我送她一束花 is more appropriate.
Using 送 as a preposition meaning 'for' or 'to': e.g., 我送她买书 is incorrect; use 我给 her.
Forgetting that 送 can mean 'see off': e.g., 我去送他 at the station is correct, not 我去给他.

FAQ

When do I use 给 vs 送?: Use 给 for general giving (handing something over) and as a preposition. Use 送 when you are giving a gift, delivering something, or seeing someone off. If in doubt, 给 is usually safer.
Can I use 送 and 给 together in one sentence?: Yes. For example, 送给她 (sòng gěi tā) combines 送 (to give as a gift/deliver) with 给 (to) to emphasize the action of giving to a recipient. This is common.
Is 送 always more polite than 给?: Not exactly. 送 adds a sense of generosity or service, so in gift-giving contexts it is more appropriate. But for neutral requests like 'give me that', 送 would sound odd. Politeness depends on context.
How do I say 'to see someone off'? Can I use 给?: No, only 送 means 'see off' (送人 sòng rén). 给 never has this meaning. For example, 我去送他 is correct; 我去给他 is wrong.