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 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.

对⋯⋯感兴趣

Structure

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

对 + Obj. + 感兴趣

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 为什么 对 我 的 生活 这么 感兴趣？Nǐ wèishéme duì wǒ de shēnghuó zhème gǎn xìngqù?Why are you so interested in my life?
• 你 好像 对 这 个 话题 不 太 感兴趣。Nǐ hǎoxiàng duì zhège huàtí bù tài gǎn xìngqù.You don't seem very interested in this topic.

对⋯⋯负责

Structure

对 + things / pereson + 负责

Examples

• 你 应该 对 这 件 事 负责。Nǐ yīnggāi duì zhè jiàn shì fùzé.You should be responsible for this matter.
• 他 不 想 对 他 的 家庭 负责。Tā bù xiǎng duì tā de jiātíng fùzé.He doesn't want to be responsible for his family.

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