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.
Contents
- Structure
- Examples
- See also
- Sources and further reading
- Books
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
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 153)
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 151)
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 84, 88)
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 198)
- Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 313)
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 11-2, 134)