Lesson 26: Benefactive constructions (làm cho ai)

In Vietnamese, doing something for someone else uses the word cho (to give) as a connector. It bridges the action to the beneficiary.

Doing Actions "For" Others

The pattern is: [Action] + cho + [Person].

Mẹ nấu cơm cho con.
"Mom cooks rice for me."

Anh mua hoa cho vợ.
"He buys flowers for (his) wife."

Instructional "cho"

You also use cho when communicating information to someone.

Nói cho tôi biết.
"Tell (for) me (to) know. (Tell me.)"

Giải thích cho tôi hiểu.
"Explain (for) me (to) understand."

Permissive "cho"

In some contexts, cho means "let" or "allow."

Để cho em làm.
"Let (for) me do it."

Favor-Based Logic

The person receiving the "good" usually follows the cho. You are literally "giving" the result of the action to them.

Hãy làm cho tôi một việc.
"Please do a favor for me."

Examples

Chị viết thư cho bạn.
"She writes a letter for/to (her) friend."

Mua cho con cái này nhé?
"Buy this for me, okay?"

Note on nuance

In English, we switch between "to," "for," and "at." In Vietnamese, cho covers most situations where an action is directed toward someone's benefit. It simplifies the logic: Action -> Give -> Person.