When using 对 (duì) as a preposition, it is used to indicate "to" or "towards" an object or target. As with all prepositions, some care should be taken when using this particle, as usage of 对 doesn't always totally "make sense" or correspond to English at all.
Basic Usage
Structure
Note that you shouldn't be plugging in just any old verb here. Certain verbs are often used with 对, and some even need 对 if you want to add an Obj. (like 感兴趣, explained below).
Examples
- 宝宝 对 我 笑 了。Bǎobao duì wǒ xiào le.The baby smiled at me.
- 小狗 在 对 你 叫。Xiǎo gǒu zài duì nǐ jiào.The dog is barking at you.
- 你 不 应该 这样 对 我们 说话。Nǐ bù yīnggāi zhèyang duì wǒmen shuōhuà.You shouldn't talk to us this way.
- 你 怎么 能 对 你 妈妈 大 喊 大 叫？Nǐ zěnme néng duì nǐ māma dà hǎn dà jiào?How could you shout at your mother?
- 不要 对 孩子 发脾气！Bù yào duì háizi fā píqi!Don't lose your temper at the child!
对 is also used in such structures as: 对...来说, 对...感兴趣 ("to be interested in...") as well as 对···负责（”be responsible for things / person“）
Using 对 with 来说
Structure
In English we say "To someone or for someone." In Chinese, the pattern is:
Examples
- 对 我 来说，中文 最 难 的 语法 是 把字句。 Duì wǒ lái shuō, Zhōngwén zuì nán de yǔfǎ shì bǎ zì jù.To me, the most difficult Chinese grammar is Ba sentence.
- 对 他 来说，家人 比 工作 更 重要。Duì tā lái shuō, jiārén bǐ gōngzuò gèng zhòngyào.To him, family is more important than work.
- 对 老板 来说，赚钱 是 第一。Duì lǎobǎn lái shuō, zhuànqián shì dìyī.To the boss, making money comes first.
- 穿 这 种 衣服 对我们 来说 太 奢侈 了。Chuān zhè zhǒng yīfu duì wǒmen lái shuō tài shēchǐ le.To us, it's too luxurious to wear this kind of clothes.
- 这 个 问题 对 一 个 五 岁 的 孩子 来说 太 复杂 了。Zhè gè wèntí duì yī gè wǔ suì de háizi lái shuō tài fùzá le.For a five-year-old kid, this question is too complicated.
Other Usage of 对
"对"加宾语放在某些动词或者形容词前，相当于英文的"in, to, for, with"等。常见的这类动词如下：
- 对⋯⋯感兴趣 (gǎn xìngqù) to be interested in
- 对⋯⋯负责 (fùzé) to be responsible for
- 对⋯⋯满意 (mǎnyì) to be satisfied with
- 对⋯⋯热情 (rèqíng) to be friendly to; to be enthusiastic about
- 对⋯⋯有帮助 (yǒu bāngzhù) to be helpful to
- 对⋯⋯的影响 (yǐngxiǎng) to have influence on
Examples
- 我 对 学 外语 很 感 兴趣。Wǒ duì xué wàiyǔ hěn gǎn xìngqù.I am very interested in learning foreign language.
- 你 要 对 自己 的 工作 负责。Nǐ yào duì zìjǐ de gōngzuò fùzé.You need to be responsible for your job.
- 老板 好像 对 你 不 太 满意。Lǎobǎn hǎoxiàng duì nǐ bù tài mǎnyì.The boss seems not very satisfied with you.
- 这里 的 服务员 都 对 顾客 很 热情。Zhèlǐ de fúwùyuán dōu duì gùkè hěn rèqíng.The waiters here are all very friendly to the customers.
- 这个 App 对 我 的 英语 学习 很 有帮助。Zhège App duì wǒ de Yīngyǔ xuéxí hěn yǒu bāngzhù.This method helps a lot with my English learning.
- 这 件 事 对 他 的 影响 很 大。Zhè jiàn shì duì tā de yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.This piece of matter has a big influence on him.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
Category:B1 grammar points Category:Prepositions