{{Grammar Box}} 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 ===
对 + Obj. + Verb
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:
对 + Person + 来说
=== 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== *[[Using "xiang"]] *[[Using "gen"]] *[["For…" with "eryan"]] *[[Comparing "gen" and "dui"]] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (p. 153) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (p. 151) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy] * [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 84, 88) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] * [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (pp. 198) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075294 →buy] * [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (pp. 313) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy] *[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (pp. 11-2, 134) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy] [[Category:B1 grammar points]] [[Category:Prepositions]] {{Similar|"For…" with "eryan"}} {{Similar|Using "gen"}} {{Similar|Using "xiang"}} {{Similar|Saying "ever since" with "yilai"}} {{Similar|Comparing "gen" and "dui"}} {{Similar|Expressing "with" with "gen"}} {{Similar|Verbs with "gei"}} {{Similar|Giving perspective with "yaowoshuo"}} {{Translation|to}} {{Translation|towards}} {{Basic Grammar|对|B1|对 + Noun⋯⋯| 宝宝 对 我 笑 了。|grammar point|ASG8ICO9}} {{POS|Prepositions}}