ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-65.txt

{{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 ===

<div class="jiegou">

对 + Obj. + Verb 

</div>

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 ===

<div class="liju">

*宝宝 <em>对</em> <strong>我</strong> 笑 了。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>duì</em> <strong>wǒ</strong> xiào le.</span><span class="trans">The baby smiled at me.</span>
*小狗 在 <em>对</em> <strong>你</strong> 叫。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎo gǒu zài <em>duì</em> <strong>nǐ</strong> jiào.</span><span class="trans">The dog is barking at you.</span>
*你 不 应该 这样 <em>对</em> <strong>我们</strong> 说话。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù yīnggāi zhèyang <em>duì</em> <strong>wǒmen</strong> shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">You shouldn't talk to us this way.</span>
*你 怎么 能 <em>对</em> <strong>你 妈妈</strong> 大 喊 大 叫？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme néng <em>duì</em> <strong>nǐ māma</strong> dà hǎn dà jiào?</span><span class="trans">How could you shout at your mother?</span>
*不要 <em>对</em> <strong>孩子</strong> 发脾气！<span class="pinyin">Bù yào <em>duì</em> <strong>háizi</strong> fā píqi!</span><span class="trans">Don't lose your temper at the child!</span>

</div>

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:

<div class="jiegou">

对 + <strong>Person</strong> + 来说

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*<em>对</em> <strong>我</strong> 来说，中文 最 难 的 语法 是 把字句。<span class="pinyin"><em> Duì</em> <strong>wǒ</strong> lái shuō, Zhōngwén zuì nán de yǔfǎ shì bǎ zì jù.</span><span class="trans">To me, the most difficult Chinese grammar is Ba sentence.</span>
*<em>对</em> <strong>他</strong> 来说，家人 比 工作 更 重要。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duì</em> <strong>tā</strong> lái shuō, jiārén bǐ gōngzuò gèng zhòngyào.</span><span class="trans">To him, family is more important than work.</span>
*<em>对</em> <strong>老板</strong> 来说，赚钱 是 第一。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duì</em> <strong>lǎobǎn</strong> lái shuō, zhuànqián shì dìyī.</span><span class="trans">To the boss, making money comes first.</span>
*穿 这 种 衣服 <em>对</em><strong>我们</strong> 来说 太 奢侈 了。<span class="pinyin">Chuān zhè zhǒng yīfu <em>duì</em> <strong>wǒmen</strong> lái shuō tài shēchǐ le.</span><span class="trans">To us, it's too luxurious to wear this kind of clothes.</span>
*这 个 问题 <em>对</em> <strong>一 个 五 岁 的 孩子</strong> 来说 太 复杂 了。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè wèntí <em>duì</em> <strong>yī gè wǔ suì de háizi</strong> lái shuō tài fùzá le.</span><span class="trans">For a five-year-old kid, this question is too complicated.</span>

</div>

== 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 ===

<div class="liju">

*我 <em>对</em> <strong>学 外语</strong> 很 感 兴趣。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>duì</em> <strong>xué wàiyǔ</strong> hěn gǎn xìngqù.</span><span class="trans">I am very interested in learning foreign language.</span>
*你 要 <em>对</em> <strong>自己 的 工作</strong> 负责。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào <em>duì</em> <strong>zìjǐ de gōngzuò</strong> fùzé.</span><span class="trans">You need to be responsible for your job.</span>
*老板 好像 <em>对</em> <strong>你</strong> 不 太 满意。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn hǎoxiàng <em>duì</em> <strong>nǐ</strong> bù tài mǎnyì.</span><span class="trans">The boss seems not very satisfied with you.</span>
*这里 的 服务员 都 <em>对</em> <strong>顾客</strong> 很 热情。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de fúwùyuán dōu <em>duì</em> <strong>gùkè</strong> hěn rèqíng.</span><span class="trans">The waiters here are all very friendly to the customers.</span>
*这个 App <em>对</em> <strong>我 的 英语 学习</strong> 很 有帮助。<span class="pinyin">Zhège App <em>duì</em> <strong>wǒ de Yīngyǔ xuéxí</strong> hěn yǒu bāngzhù.</span><span class="trans">This method helps a lot with my English learning.</span>
*这 件 事 <em>对</em> <strong>他</strong> 的 影响 很 大。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>duì</em> <strong>tā</strong> de yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">This piece of matter has a big influence on him.</span>

</div>

==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 <em>对</em> 我 笑 了。|grammar point|ASG8ICO9}}
{{POS|Prepositions}}