traer vs llevar
Like ir/venir but for objects — llevar is taking something away, traer is bringing it here.
llevar
To take/carry — moving something away from the speaker's current position.
Lleva el paraguas, que va a llover.
Take an umbrella, it's going to rain.
You're sending them off with it. They're leaving your location.
Le llevo la cuenta.
I'll bring you the bill.
Even though English says 'bring,' the waiter is moving away from their current spot to deliver it — so Spanish uses llevar.
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas esperando?
How long have you been waiting?
A completely different meaning of llevar — time elapsed. Context makes it clear.
traer
To bring — moving something toward the speaker's current position.
¿Me traes una cerveza?
Can you get me a beer?
You're asking them to bring it to where you are. The destination is your location.
Traje vino a la cena.
I brought wine to the dinner.
Brought it to the location you're describing — the dinner, where you were going.
¿Qué noticias traes?
What news do you bring?
Traer used figuratively — bringing information to the speaker.
Tricky bit
'El camarero trae la cuenta' (waiter brings the bill — to the customer's table, where the speaker is). But 'llévame a casa' (take me home — away from current location). The anchor is always the speaker.