爲
イ, ため, な.る, な.す, す.る, たり, つく.る, なり

change, be of use, reach to, do, try, practice, cost, serve as

JLPT0 G13 S0 F5000

The relevant oracle bone form of this character is 爫/爪 hand/claw + 象 elephant → brandish a curved stick in training elephants, transforming their behavior. *Do* is an associated meaning (← use the hands and accomplish an objective) → *make*; *arrange*. Also, *become* and *change into* (compare 化), as well as *on behalf of* and *because of* (← do/perform for the benefit of another). The pronunciation of 爲 suggests that 象 has replaced another element, one likely indicating a different animal.

[Full Kanji Etymology List]