给 vs 为 (to/for vs for the sake of)
A recipient differs from acting on behalf of someone
- You call a friend to speak directly to them.
- 我给他打电话。 — 给 marks the person receiving the call.
A recipient differs from acting on behalf of someone
- You call a friend to speak directly to them.
- I / me我to / for / give给he / him他to make a telephone call打电话。 — to / for / give给 marks the person receiving the call.
You call a friend to speak directly to them. What does 我给他打电话。 communicate?
给 marks the person receiving the call. 为他打电话 can mean making a call on his behalf. 给 and 为 can overlap in beneficiary contexts such as buying a gift, so this distinction is not an absolute separation of meanings.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is 给 vs 为 (to/for vs for the sake of). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我for给you你buy买了present礼物。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is to / for / give给 vs for为 (to/for vs for the sake of). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我for给you你buy买了present礼物。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: I bought you a present: 我 ____ 你买了礼物。
给你买了礼物 is natural; 为你买了礼物 can also name the beneficiary. A strict exclusive answer is not justified here.
Read examples in context
this这all都is是for the sake of为you你good好。
- In the opening example, 我给他打电话。: 给 marks the person receiving the call.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
this这all都is是for the sake of为you你good好。
- In the opening example, I / me我to / for / give给he / him他to make a telephone call打电话。: to / for / give给 marks the person receiving the call.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which means “for your own good” (a benefit / motive)? · ¿Cuál significa “para tu propio bien” (un beneficio / motivo)?
为你好 = for your good; 给 marks a recipient (给你买). · 为你好 = para tu bien; 给 marca un destinatario (给你买).
Know the boundary
- 为他打电话 can mean making a call on his behalf.
- 给 and 为 can overlap in beneficiary contexts such as buying a gift, so this distinction is not an absolute separation of meanings.
Know the boundary
- for为he / him他to make a telephone call打电话 can mean making a call on his behalf.
- to / for / give给 and for为 can overlap in beneficiary contexts such as buying a gift, so this distinction is not an absolute separation of meanings.
给 often marks a recipient; 为 names the beneficiary / purpose. · 给 a menudo marca un destinatario; 为 nombra al beneficiario / propósito.
Yes — 给他打电话 (to him) vs 为大家服务 (for everyone's sake). · Sí — 给他打电话 (a él) vs 为大家服务 (por el bien de todos).
给他打电话 necessarily means calling someone else on his behalf.
为他打电话 can mean making a call on his behalf. 给 and 为 can overlap in beneficiary contexts such as buying a gift, so this distinction is not an absolute separation of meanings. 给 marks the person receiving the call.
Use the distinction
- 给 marks the person receiving the call.
- 为他打电话 can mean making a call on his behalf. 给 and 为 can overlap in beneficiary contexts such as buying a gift, so this distinction is not an absolute separation of meanings.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar prepositions.
Use the distinction
- to / for / give给 marks the person receiving the call.
- for为he / him他to make a telephone call打电话 can mean making a call on his behalf. to / for / give给 and for为 can overlap in beneficiary contexts such as buying a gift, so this distinction is not an absolute separation of meanings.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar prepositions.