Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'give up' followed by a gerund (-ing) to talk about stopping a habit or admitting defeat.
- Use 'give up' + -ing for habits: 'I gave up smoking last year.'
- Use 'give up' alone to mean surrender: 'The puzzle was too hard, so I gave up.'
- Use 'give up on' for people or long-term goals: 'Don't give up on your dreams.'
Overview
give up。在 CEFR B1 级别，你不仅需要知道它表示“放弃”，更需要掌握它在不同语境下的细微差别，以及它在句子结构中的灵活变化。give up 对我们中文母语者来说很重要？在中文里，我们表达“停止”、“放弃”、“戒掉”或“投降”时，往往会使用不同的动词。但在英语中，give up 像一把“万能钥匙”，可以同时涵盖这些语义。对于习惯了“一个萝卜一个坑”式词汇对应的学习者来说，理解 give up 的多维语义是提升地道感的关键。无论是在微信（WeChat）朋友圈分享戒奶茶的决心，还是在职场压力下讨论是否要放弃某个项目，give up 都是你的首选表达。本篇指南将从语法结构、语义逻辑、中英对比以及实战避坑等多个维度，带你彻底攻克这个高频短语。give up，我们首先要拆解它的构造。它由动词 give（给）和副词小品词 up（向上/完全）组成。在英语动词短语中，up 往往带有一种“彻底性”或“完成感”。你可以这样理解：当你 give（给）出某样东西，并且是 up（彻底地、完全地）给出去，不再收回，这就构成了“放弃”或“停止”的核心逻辑。give up 的核心功能分为三个主要的语义维度，并与中文习惯进行对比：- 1放弃努力或投降 (Cessation of Effort or Surrender)
- 语言逻辑：这里的
up暗示了努力的终结。你不再向上攀登，而是放手了。 - 例句：
After trying to solve the math problem for two hours, I finally gave up.（试了两个小时解这道数学题后，我终于放弃了。）
- 1戒掉习惯或长期活动 (Abandoning a Habit)
give up。中文通常翻译为“戒”、“戒掉”。- 语言逻辑：这表示将某种习惯从你的日常生活中“完全移除”。
- 例句：
To save money for a new laptop, he decided to give up ordering takeout.（为了攒钱买新电脑，他决定不再点外卖了。）
- 1移交所有权或控制权 (Relinquishing Possession or Control)
- 语言逻辑：这里的
give恢复了其“给予”的本意，而up强调了这种给予是最终的、不可逆的。 - 例句：
She had to give up her seat on the subway to an elderly person.（她不得不把地铁上的座位让给一位老人。）
give up 的形式变化遵循不规则动词 give 的变化规律，但其作为“可拆分短语动词”的特性是中文学习者最容易出错的地方。give 部分发生变化，up 保持不变：- Present Simple:
give up/gives up(第三人称单数) - Past Simple:
gave up(注意不是gived) - Present Participle:
giving up(去 e 加 ing) - Past Participle:
given up(用于完成时)
give up 是一个可拆分 (Separable) 的短语动词，这意味着宾语的位置取决于它是名词还是代词。- 当宾语是名词时：宾语可以放在
up后面，也可以放在give和up中间。 He gave up smoking.(常用)He gave smoking up.(较少用，但在强调“烟”时可行)- 当宾语是代词 (it/them/this) 时：宾语必须放在中间！这是中文学习者最常犯的错，因为中文习惯说“放弃它”（动词+宾语），但英语必须说
give it up。 - 正确：
It was a bad habit, so I gave it up. - 错误：
I gave up it.(绝对错误)
give up 后面必须接动名词 (-ing)，绝对不能接不定式 (to do)。- 正确：
I'm thinking about giving up drinking milk tea.(我在考虑戒掉奶茶。) - 错误：
I'm thinking about giving up to drink milk tea.
give up 能够帮你精准表达以下五种生活场景：- 1面对挑战感到无力时：
Don't give up now; you've already come so far!（别现在放弃，你已经走了这么远了！）
- 1讨论健康与生活方式习惯时：
No thanks, I've given up sugar this month.（谢谢，但我这个月戒糖了。）
- 1猜谜语或玩游戏时：
I give up! What's the answer?（我认输/我投降！答案是什么？）
- 1表达某种牺牲时：
Many parents give up their hobbies to spend more time with their children.（许多父母为了多陪孩子而放弃了自己的爱好。）
- 1对某人或某事失去信心时 (
give up on)：
give up on。I've never given up on my dream of traveling around the world.（我从未放弃过环游世界的梦想。）Please don't give up on him; he's just having a hard time.（请不要对他失去信心，他只是正处在艰难时期。）
give up 时经常掉进以下三个坑：- 典型错误：
The puzzle is too hard, I give up it. - 解析：在中文里，我们说“放弃它”，结构是
Verb + Object。但在英语中，短语动词如果由“动词+副词”构成，人称代词必须放在中间。记住口诀：代词放中间，名词放两边。 - 修正：
The puzzle is too hard, I give it up.
To Do Error)- 典型错误：
She gave up to play video games. - 解析：受中文“放弃去做某事”的影响，学习者容易顺手写出
to do。但在英语中，up在这里具有介词的性质（虽然它是副词小品词），其后习惯接动名词-ing来表示一个持续性的动作或习惯的终结。 - 修正：
She gave up playing video games.
stop 混淆 (The Context Confusion)- 典型错误：
I gave up at the red light. - 解析：
give up带有强烈的“主观意愿”或“克服困难”的色彩。如果只是物理意义上的“停下”（如等红灯、走路停下），应该用stop。give up意味着你原本在尝试、在坚持，后来不坚持了。 - 修正：
I stopped at the red light.
give up 与几个近义词进行对比：give up | 强调“不再努力”或“戒掉习惯”，带有情感色彩。 | 戒烟、放弃梦想、猜不出谜语。 |stop | 最中性，仅表示动作的中断，不一定意味着永远放弃。 | 停下车、停止说话、停止下雨。 |quit | 比较正式，常用于辞职或停止一项长期任务。 | 辞职 (quit a job)、退学。 |surrender | 非常正式，多用于军事或法律，指彻底投降。 | 军队投降、向警方自首。 |give in | 侧重于“屈服”，即在压力下妥协。 | 经不住孩子哀求而买玩具。 |I stopped smoking for two days.(我停了两天没抽烟 —— 可能是暂时的)I gave up smoking.(我戒烟了 —— 强调这是一个重大的决定或习惯的终结)I quit my job.(我辞职了 —— 强调离开某个职位)
give up 和 give in 有什么区别？give up 侧重于“不再尝试”（停止努力），而 give in 侧重于“屈服”（在别人的要求或压力下妥协）。例如：对方一直求你，你最后答应了，那是 give in；你做题做不出来不想做了，那是 give up。give up 可以不接任何东西直接用吗？I give up! 是非常地道的用法。give up 后面接了 to？to 作为介词表示“让步给...”，如 give oneself up to the police（向警方自首）；二是 to 引导的是目的状语，比如 He gave up his job to travel.（他放弃了工作，目的是去旅行）。这种情况下，to 不是紧跟 give up 的固定搭配。give it up for someone 是什么意思？我在电视里听过。Please give it up for our next guest!（请为我们的下一位嘉宾鼓掌！）这与“放弃”完全没有关系，属于特定语境下的习惯用法。Conjugation of 'Give up'
| Tense | Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I/You/We/They
|
give up
|
I give up easily.
|
|
Present Simple
|
He/She/It
|
gives up
|
She gives up coffee.
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
gave up
|
They gave up the search.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
All subjects
|
am/is/are giving up
|
I am giving up sugar.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
All subjects
|
have/has given up
|
He has given up smoking.
|
|
Future
|
All subjects
|
will give up
|
I will never give up.
|
Contractions with 'Give up'
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
I have given up
|
I've given up
|
I've given up on him.
|
|
He has given up
|
He's given up
|
He's given up sweets.
|
|
I did not give up
|
I didn't give up
|
I didn't give up the fight.
|
Meanings
To stop doing something that you do regularly, or to stop trying to do something because it is too difficult.
Stopping a Habit
To cease a regular activity, often something unhealthy or time-consuming.
“She gave up coffee for Lent.”
“He's trying to give up social media for a month.”
Admitting Defeat
To stop trying to do something because you realize you cannot succeed.
“I couldn't solve the riddle, so I gave up.”
“Never give up, even when things get tough!”
Surrendering
To allow yourself to be caught by the police or an enemy.
“The thief gave himself up to the police.”
“The rebels were forced to give up their weapons.”
Reference Table
| 含义 | 使用场景 | 例句 | 同义词 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
停止尝试 / 投降
|
挑战、游戏、争论
|
I gave up trying to solve the riddle.
|
Quit, abandon, concede
|
|
戒掉习惯
|
生活方式改变、成瘾
|
She gave up smoking last year.
|
Quit, cease, abstain from
|
|
牺牲 / 让出
|
放弃财产、信息、权利
|
He had to give up his favorite toy.
|
Relinquish, concede, hand over
|
|
承认失败
|
不知道谜语或问题的答案
|
Okay, I give up! What's the answer?
|
Concede, stumped
|
|
失去希望 (搭配 'on')
|
对人或局势的信念
|
Don't give up on your dreams.
|
Abandon hope, lose faith
|
|
停止运转 (习语)
|
旧机器，有时指人
|
My old car finally gave up the ghost.
|
Break down, die
|
正式程度
I have decided to cease my efforts regarding this matter. (Problem solving)
I've given up on this problem. (Problem solving)
I'm done with this. (Problem solving)
I'm out. (Problem solving)
Give Up 的多种用法
含义
- 停止尝试 / 投降 Cease effort, admit defeat
- 戒掉习惯 Quit an activity or addiction
- 交出 / 牺牲 Hand over or forgo something
- 失去希望 (搭配 'on') Stop believing in someone/something
语法
- 动词 + 动名词 Always -ing form after 'give up' for activities
- 可拆分 Object can go between 'give' and 'up'
- 短语动词 Verb + preposition combo
Give Up 与相似动词的对比
决定用 Give Up 吗？
你是停止努力或向挑战投降吗？
你是要戒掉一个习惯吗？
你是要让出或牺牲某物吗？
我们会 Give Up 的事物
努力与目标
- • a fight
- • hope
- • on a dream
- • trying
坏习惯
- • smoking
- • drinking
- • junk food
- • late nights
财产与权利
- • a seat
- • a secret
- • a job
- • old clothes
按水平分级的例句
I give up!
¡Me rindo!
Don't give up.
No te rindas.
I gave up the book.
Dejé el libro.
She gives up easily.
Ella se rinde fácilmente.
I want to give up smoking.
Quiero dejar de fumar.
He gave up his job last week.
Él dejó su trabajo la semana pasada.
Did you give up the guitar?
¿Dejaste la guitarra?
We didn't give up the search.
No abandonamos la búsqueda.
I've given up trying to understand him.
He dejado de intentar entenderlo.
She gave up her seat for the old man.
Ella cedió su asiento al anciano.
Don't give up on your dreams so quickly.
No renuncies a tus sueños tan rápido.
They finally gave up after hours of hiking.
Finalmente se rindieron después de horas de senderismo.
The suspect eventually gave himself up.
El sospechoso finalmente se entregó.
I had to give up my weekend to finish the report.
Tuve que sacrificar mi fin de semana para terminar el informe.
He gave up a promising career in law to become a chef.
Renunció a una carrera prometedora en derecho para convertirse en chef.
Why did you give up on the project halfway through?
¿Por qué abandonaste el proyecto a la mitad?
The old car finally gave up the ghost in the middle of the highway.
El coche viejo finalmente pasó a mejor vida en medio de la autopista.
She refused to give up her principles, even under immense pressure.
Se negó a renunciar a sus principios, incluso bajo una presión inmensa.
The treaty required both nations to give up their claims to the territory.
El tratado requería que ambas naciones renunciaran a sus reclamos sobre el territorio.
I've given up on the idea that things will ever return to normal.
He abandonado la idea de que las cosas vuelvan alguna vez a la normalidad.
To give up one's autonomy is a heavy price to pay for security.
Renunciar a la autonomía de uno es un precio alto a pagar por la seguridad.
The protagonist's decision to give up his quest marks the climax of the novel.
La decisión del protagonista de abandonar su búsqueda marca el clímax de la novela.
He has given up all pretense of being interested in the company's welfare.
Ha abandonado todo fingimiento de estar interesado en el bienestar de la empresa.
The sheer exhaustion caused him to give up any hope of reaching the summit.
El agotamiento puro hizo que abandonara cualquier esperanza de alcanzar la cima.
容易混淆
Both involve stopping, but 'give up' is about effort/habit, while 'give in' is about surrendering to someone else's will.
Learners use 'stop' for everything, but 'give up' is more idiomatic for habits.
They are very similar, but 'quit' is more common for jobs.
常见错误
I give up to play.
I give up playing.
He give up.
He gives up.
I gave up it.
I gave it up.
I give up on the book.
I gave up the book.
I gave up to smoke.
I gave up smoking.
She has give up.
She has given up.
I give up my job.
I quit my job.
I gave in my hobby.
I gave up my hobby.
Don't give up me.
Don't give up on me.
He gave up himself.
He gave himself up.
The machine gave up.
The machine gave up the ghost.
句型
I gave up ___ because it was too ___.
You should never give up on ___.
If I hadn't given up ___, I would be ___ now.
Real World Usage
I never give up when faced with a difficult technical problem.
I give up, I can't find the restaurant. Where are you?
You really need to give up smoking for your heart health.
Don't give up! Your hard work will pay off. #motivation
Don't give up the ball so easily!
Would you mind giving up your seat for this lady?
动名词是你的好朋友
I gave up eating meat.，而不是
I gave up to eat meat.。这是最容易出错的地方！
暂时停下别用 Give Up
take a break。 Give up 通常意味着永久停止或投降。比如你睡觉前会 stop watching a movie，但如果你觉得这剧太烂不看了，那才是 give up。掌握 Give Up On
Never give up on yourself!
语气很重要
I give up 有时会显得有些沮丧或挫败。在面试或团队会议中，要注意你的语气和肢体语言哦。Smart Tips
Use 'give up' instead of 'stop' to sound more like a native speaker.
Always use 'trying', never 'to try'.
Just say 'I give up!' It's the perfect idiomatic response.
Remember the 'on'. 'Give up on' is for people; 'Give up' is for things.
发音
Phrasal Verb Stress
In phrasal verbs, the stress usually falls on the particle (up), not the verb (give).
Linking
The 'v' in 'give' often links to the 'u' in 'up', sounding like 'gi-vup'.
Falling intonation for statements
I give up. ↘
Conveys finality and defeat.
记住它
记忆技巧
UP means STOP. When you give it UP, you let it go to the sky and stop holding it.
视觉联想
Imagine yourself holding a heavy bag labeled 'Smoking.' You lift it UP and let a balloon carry it away. You have given it up.
Rhyme
When the task is much too tough, say 'I give up, I've had enough!'
Story
John tried to climb the mountain. It was very steep. He looked at the summit and said, 'I give up.' He sat down and gave up his dream of reaching the top.
Word Web
挑战
Write down three things you have given up in your life and three things you will never give up on.
文化笔记
There is a strong cultural emphasis on 'Never giving up' (grit). Giving up is often seen as a negative trait, though 'giving up a habit' is praised.
The 'stiff upper lip' mentality suggests one should not give up even in the face of extreme adversity.
The concept of 'Ganbaru' (doing one's best) makes 'giving up' (akirameru) a very significant and sometimes shameful decision.
The phrase 'give up' comes from the Old English 'giefan' (to give) and the adverb 'up'.
对话开场白
Have you ever given up a bad habit?
What is something you will never give up on?
If a game is too hard, do you give up or keep trying?
Why do people give up on their New Year's resolutions?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
After years of trying, she finally gave up ___ to be an Olympic athlete.
Find and fix the mistake:
He gave up to smoke last month for his health.
选择正确的句子：
Translate into English: 'Nunca te rindas en tus estudios.'
Answer starts with: ["N...
never give up on用于表达不放弃对某事（如学业）的信念或努力。
Score: /4
练习题
8 exercisesI gave up ___ (eat) meat three years ago.
The math problem was too hard, so I ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
He gave up to play the piano.
up / never / on / give / dreams / your
A: Are you still learning Japanese? B: No, it was too difficult, so I ___.
1. I gave up sugar. 2. I gave in to the kids.
Select the grammatically correct sentence.
The criminal gave ___ up to the police.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesDon't give up ___ your dreams!
My phone is old, it will give up soon.
选择正确的句子：
将这句话翻译成英语：'她辞掉了工作去环游世界。'
将单词连成句子：
连连看：
I'm trying to give up ___ fast food for a healthier lifestyle.
The police asked him to give up his wallet.
选择最合适的句子：
将这句话翻译成英语：'面对挑战，她从不认输。'
将单词连成句子：
将含义与语境匹配：
Score: /12
常见问题 (8)
Not exactly. `Stop` is a general word for ending an action. `Give up` usually implies that you are stopping a habit or stopping an effort because it is difficult.
No, that is incorrect. When using a pronoun like `it`, it must go in the middle: `I gave it up.`
It means you have lost hope that they will change or succeed. For example, `I've given up on him ever being on time.`
It is neutral. You can use it in daily conversation, but also in many professional contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might use `cease` or `discontinue`.
The past tense is `gave up`. For example, `I gave up smoking last year.`
You can, but `quit` is more common. `I quit my job` sounds more natural than `I gave up my job.`
`Give up` is about stopping an effort or habit. `Give in` is about surrendering to someone else's pressure or demands.
In English, many phrasal verbs and verbs followed by prepositions require the gerund (-ing) form of the following verb.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Dejar de / Rendirse
English requires the -ing form, Spanish requires the infinitive.
Arrêter / Abandonner
The use of the gerund in English is the main hurdle for French speakers.
Aufgeben / Aufhören
German speakers often find the phrasal structure intuitive but must learn the -ing rule.
Yameru / Akirameru
English 'give up' is more versatile than the specific Japanese verbs.
Istislām / Tark
Arabic uses distinct roots for different types of 'giving up'.
Fàngqì (放弃)
Chinese has no verb conjugation, so the 'give/gave/given' forms are the main challenge.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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