Out of my hand, into yours: 给

Where the picture shows up in 给

1. 1

   hand to hand

   麻烦把菜单给我。

   máfan bǎ càidān gěi wǒ

   Could I have the menu?

2. 2

   aimed across at you

   我明天给你打电话。

   wǒ míngtiān gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà

   I'll call you tomorrow.

   Here 给 isn't 'give' at all — it marks the direction, 'toward you'.

3. 3

   set down on your side

   这个是给你的。

   zhège shì gěi nǐ de

   This one's for you.

4. 4

   made for your side

   我给孩子做了饭。

   wǒ gěi háizi zuò le fàn

   I cooked dinner for the kids.

5. 5

   it got away from you

   杯子给打破了。

   bēizi gěi dǎpò le

   The cup went and got broken.

   This 给 sits where 被 would. It's colloquial and carries a shrug — it left my hands and happened.