给以 (gěi yǐ) — to give, to grant (abstract things like support, help, attention)

Definition

给以 (gěi yǐ) is a formal, written verb meaning 'to give / to grant' — used only for abstract things like support, encouragement, or rewards, and sounds stiffer than the everyday 给.

verb
to giveto grant (abstract things like support, help, attention)

Examples

  • 给以。
    Zhèng fǔ yīng gāi duì pín kùn dì qū gěi yǐ gèng duō de zhī chí.
    The government should give more support to impoverished areas.
  • 给以。
    Lǎo shī gěi xué shēng men gěi yǐ le chōng fèn de gǔ lì.
    The teacher gave the students ample encouragement.
  • 给以。
    Gōng sī duì yōu xiù yuán gōng gěi yǐ le jiǎng lì.
    The company gave rewards to outstanding employees.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

给gěigive
以yǐgive

给 means give, and 以 completes the sense of granting.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 給; 给 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
合
合hé給gěi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 給 uses 糸 (silk) for meaning and 合 for sound, and its old sense was rich, abundant, perhaps referring to precious silk; 给 is a later simplified form.

Open 给 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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