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<p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">跟</span> (<span class="pinyin">gēn</span>) and <span class="hanzi">对</span> (<span class="pinyin">duì</span>) sometimes seem like they mean the same thing, and at other times they seem to be different.After reading this article, you will know the difference!</p>
<h2 id="when-they-have-the-same-form-and-same-meaning-when-used-with-说">When they have the same form and same meaning when used with 说</h2>
<p>When using the verb <span class="hanzi">说</span>, <span class="hanzi">跟</span> and <span class="hanzi">对</span> can both be used in a similar sentence pattern. <span class="hanzi">跟</span> and <span class="hanzi">对</span> are both prepositions, and they both express one person speaking to another.</p>
<h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<div class="deux">Person A + 跟 / <span class="hanzist">对</span> + Person B <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">说</span></div>
</div>
<h4 id="examples">Examples</h4>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">我 跟 她 说 了，但是 她 不 信。</span> <span class="trans">I told her, but she didn't believe me.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">我 对 她 说 了，但是 她 不 信。</span> <span class="trans">I told her, but she didn't believe me.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">他 对 我 说 他 爱 我。</span> <span class="trans">He told me he loved me.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">他 跟 我 说 他 爱 我。</span> <span class="trans">He told me he loved me.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">刚才 你 对 他 说 什么 了？</span> <span class="trans">What did you just tell him?</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">刚才 你 跟 他 说 什么 了？</span> <span class="trans">What did you just tell him?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="when-they-have-a-similar-grammar-structure-but-different-meanings">When they have a similar grammar structure but different meanings</h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">跟</span> and <span class="hanzi">对</span> can be verbs, and they often are used with a <span class="hanzi">着</span>, however their meanings are different.</p>
<h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<div class="deux">Subj. + <span class="hanzist">跟</span> / <span class="hanzist">对</span> + Obj.</div>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-for-跟">Examples for <span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal;">跟</span></h4>
<p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">跟</span> is a verb, and it's simplest meaning is "<b>follow</b>." Often it is used as a verb phrase, such as <span class="hanzi">跟着</span>, <span class="hanzi">跟上</span>, <span class="hanzi">跟不上</span>, <span class="hanzi">跟得上</span>, <span class="hanzi">跟</span> somebody + Verb.</p>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">这 只 小 猫 总是 跟着 我。</span> <span class="trans">This little cat always follows me.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">你 走 得 太 快 ，我 跟不上。</span> <span class="trans">You walk too fast, I can't keep up.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">你 想 跟 我 去 吗？</span> <span class="trans">Do you want to go with me?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-for-对">Examples for <span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal;">对</span></h4>
<p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">对</span> is also a verb, put it has the meaning of "<b>towards</b>" or "<b>point to.</b>" Often it is used as: <span class="hanzi">对着</span>, <span class="hanzi">对上</span>, <span class="hanzi">对不上</span>.</p>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">枪口 不 要 对着 人。</span> <span class="trans">Don't point that at people.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">我 喜欢 对着 镜子 笑。</span> <span class="trans">I like to laugh at myself in the mirror.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">这 两 本 账 对不上。</span> <span class="trans">These two accounts don't match up.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="when-to-use-跟-and-not-对">When to use <span class="hanzist">跟</span> and not <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">对</span></h2>
<p><span style="color: rgb(139, 0, 0); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 22px;">跟</span> is a proposition, and it can be used in comparison. It will often have a supplementary explanation, similar to how <span class="hanzi">和</span> can be used (as in <span class="hanzi">我和你一样高</span>). 对 cannot be used this way.</p>
<h3 id="structure-1-1">Structure 1</h3>
<p>This structure is used to explain that two things are (or aren't) similar.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<div class="deux">A + <span class="hanzist">跟</span> + B + （<span class="hanzist">不</span>）<span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">一样</span></div>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-1">Examples</h4>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">我 跟 你们 不一样，我 还 有 孩子 呢。</span> <span class="trans">I am not like you guys. I still have kids.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">上海 跟 纽约 一样，都 是 国际 大 都市。</span> <span class="trans">Shanghai and New York are alike; they are both international cities.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="structure-2">Structure 2</h3>
<p>This structure shows that two nouns are the same in some some aspect, which is the word that follows "一样."</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<div class="deux">A + <span class="hanzist">跟</span> + B + （<span class="hanzist">不</span>）<span class="hanzist">一样</span> + Adj.</div>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-2">Examples</h4>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">我 现在 跟 我 爸 一样 高。</span> <span class="trans">Now I'm as tall as my dad.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">你 跟 你 妈 一样 喜欢 买 衣服。</span> <span class="trans">You like to buy clothes just like your mother.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="structure-3">Structure 3</h3>
<p>"<span class="hanzi">跟</span>" functions as a conjunction in this structure, joining two things together. Generally, these are nouns or pronouns (as with "<span class="hanzi">和</span>"). "<span class="hanzi">对</span>" cannot function like this.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<div class="deux">Subj. 1 <span class="hanzist">跟</span> Subj. 2 + Verb-Obj.</div>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-3">Examples</h4>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">你 要 跟 我 一起 去 吗？</span> <span class="trans">Are you going to go with me?</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">鲜花 跟巧克力 是 最 好 的 礼物。</span> <span class="trans">Flowers and chocolate are the best gifts.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="examples-when-to-use-对-and-not-跟">Examples when to use <span class="hanzist">对</span> and not <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal;">跟</span></h2>
<h3 id="structure-4">Structure</h3>
<p>When 对 as a proposition, it points to a certain target,since it can mean "<b>point to</b>" or "<b>toward to</b>." <span class="hanzi">跟</span> can only be used this way with <span class="hanzi">说</span>.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<div class="deux">Subj. 1 <span class="hanzist">对</span> Subj. 2 + Verb</div>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-4">Examples</h4>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">那 个 美女 正 对 我 笑 呢。</span> <span class="trans">That pretty girl is laughing at me.</span></li>
<li><span class="hanzi">不 要 对 老板 发脾气， 不然 后果 很 严重。</span> <span class="trans">Don't lose your temper with the boss, otherwise there will be serious consequences.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="example-dialog">Example Dialog</h2>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li>A: <span class="hanzi">那 个 帅哥 在 对 我 招手！</span> <span class="trans">That handsome guy is motioning for me to go to him!</span></li>
<li>B: <span class="hanzi">那 你 要 跟 他 去 吗？</span> <span class="trans">Well, are you going to go with him?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Expressing_"with"_with_"gen"" title="wikilink">Expressing "with" with "gen"</a></li>
<li><a href="Using_"dui"" title="wikilink">Using "dui"</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语八百词（增订本） (跟 p. 201)</span> </li>
</ul>
<h3 id="dictionaries">Dictionaries</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语词典（第5版） (跟p.465 对p.343)</span> </li>
</ul>
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