Using "dui" with verbs

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 Structure

The structure is basically:

对 + Object + Verb Phrase

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 object (like 感兴趣, explained below).

Examples

Here are some examples:

• 他 对 我 笑。Tā duì wǒ xiào.He laughs at me.
• 我 要 对 你 负责。Wǒ yào duì nǐ fùzé.I am going to be responsible for you.
• 她 对 我 很 客气。Tā duì wǒ hěn kèqì.She was very polite to me.
• 你 为什么 对 我 有 意见 ？Nǐ wèishéme duì wǒ yǒu yìjiàn?Why do you dislike me?
• 我 对 西安 不 熟悉。Wǒ duì Xī'ān bù shúxī.I am not familiar with Xi'an.
• 抽烟 对 健康 有害。Chōuyān duì jiànkāng yǒuhài.Smoking is bad for your health.

对 is also used in such structures as: 对……来说 ("for... [a person]") ,对...感兴趣 ("to be interested in...") as well as 对···的印象（”the impression on the object“）

对……来说

This essentially means "for... (a person)." It's for making a statement from a certain person's point of view.

The pattern is:

对 + Person + 来说

• 川菜 对 我 来说 太 辣 了。Chuāncài duì wǒ lái shuō tài là le.To me, Szechuan food is too spicy.
• 对 她 来说 英语 很 容易。Duì tā lái shuō Yīngyǔ hěn róngyì.She thinks English is easy.
• 对 我 来说 书法 很 有意思。Duì wǒ lái shuō shūfǎ hěn yǒu yìsi.I think calligraphy is very interesting.

对……感兴趣

In English we say "to be interested in something." In Chinese, the pattern is:

对 + Object + 感兴趣

• 我 对 书法 感 兴趣。Wǒ duì shūfǎ gǎn xìngqù.I am interested in calligraphy.
• 谁 对 英语 很 感兴趣？Shuí duì Yīngyǔ hěn gǎn xìngqù?Who is interested in English?
• 你 好像 对 她 不太 感兴趣。Nǐ hǎoxiàng duì tā bù tài gǎn xìngqù.You don't seem very interested in her.

对······的印象

This basically means "the impression on what you saw or what you know."

The pattern is:

对 + Object + 的印象

• 你来上海半年了，对 这个城市 的印象怎么样？Nǐ lái Shànghǎi bànnián le, duì zhè ge chéngshì de yìnxiàng zěnme yàng?You've been in Shanghai for six months.What's your impression on this city?
• 你们对大多数美国人的印象怎么样？Nǐmen duì dà duōshù Měiguó rén de yìnxiàng zěnme yàng?What's your impression on the majority of Americans?

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) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 151) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 84, 88) →buy
• Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 198) →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) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 11-2, 134) →buy