Grammar · Chapter 39
替 and 为: instead of and for the sake of
A 替 B + verb · A 为 B + verb
替 is “in someone's place”: 我替你去, “I'll go instead of you”. 为 is “for someone's sake”. Both go before the verb. 给 is just “to whom”: 给你买, “buy it for you”, while 替你买 is “buy it so you don't have to”.
Examples
- 我替你去。 Wǒ tì nǐ qù. I'll go in your place.
- 请替我谢谢她。 Qǐng tì wǒ xièxie tā. Please thank her for me.
- 妈妈为孩子做了很多。 Māma wèi háizi zuò le hěn duō. Mum has done a lot for her children.