Fare or farsi
The verb fare (to do, to make) can describe an action aimed at others or at oneself, and in this case, the two verbs have the same meaning.
Faccio un dolce per Anna (= ad Anna) fare, presente VS Mi faccio una torta (= a me) farsi, presente
I'm making a cake for Anna (for Anna) fare, presente vs I'm making myself a cake (for myself) farsi, presente
Non fare male al gatto (=al gatto) VS Cerca di non farti male in palestra (=a te stesso/a)
Don't hurt the cat (the cat) vs Try not to hurt yourself in the gym (yourself)
In some cases, we use fare (to do, to make) but cannot replace it with farsi to indicate that we are doing the action to or for ourselves.
Carlotta e Betty fanno ridere = provocano una risata.
Carlotta and Betty make (people) laugh = they provoke laughter.
There are some expressions in which we use farsi to make the expression less formal, but we could also use fare.
Ti fai un aperitivo con gli amici = fai un aperitivo con gli amici.
You're having an aperitif with friends.
Anna e Magda si fanno un bagno in mare = Anna e Magda fanno un bagno in mare.
Anna and Magda take a dip in the sea.
There are some (usually informal) expressions in which we use farsi and in which we cannot replace it with fare. Sometimes, we even add another pronoun.
Ci facciamo una risata = ridiamo.
We have a laugh = we laugh.
Ciro se la fa sotto dal ridere (farsela = farsi + la) = Ciro ride talmente tanto che rischia di farsi la pipì addosso.
Ciro wets himself laughing (farsela = farsi + la) = Ciro laughs so much that he risks peeing himself.
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