给 vs 为 (to/for vs for the sake of)

Hand it to them, or do it for them?

Both can mean "for" — but they aim differently.
to / for / give给gěi = to / for (often a recipient): to / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto buy买mǎi = "buy (it) for me", to / for / give给gěihe / him他tāto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà = "call him".
for为wèi = for the sake of (a benefit / motive): for为wèihello你好nǐ hǎo = "for your own good".

I / me我wǒto / for / give给gěiyou你nǐto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了legift礼物lǐ wù = "I bought you a present."

I我wǒfor给gěiyou你nǐbuy买mǎi了lepresent礼物lǐ wù。

to / for / give给gěiyou你nǐto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了legift礼物lǐ wù = "bought you a present."

Practice

I bought you a present: 我 ____ 你买了礼物。

Practice

给 often marks a recipient; 为 names the beneficiary / purpose.

this这zhèall / both都dōuto be / is是shìfor为wèihello你好nǐ hǎo = "this is all for your own good."

this这zhèall都dōuis是shìfor the sake of为wèiyou你nǐgood好hǎo。

Explore

给 is the giving verb itself (给我 / 交给); 为 serves a cause or someone's sake.

Practice

Which means “for your own good” (a benefit / motive)?

Key idea

to / for / give给gěi = to / for (a recipient): to / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto buy买mǎi, to / for / give给gěihe / him他tāto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà
for为wèi = for the sake of (benefit / motive): for为wèihello你好nǐ hǎo, for为wèieveryone大家dà jiā
to / for / give给gěi hands something over; for为wèi names the beneficiary / purpose