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 Pattern

Structure

对 + Person + Verb

Note that you shouldn't be plugging in just any old verb here.

Examples

• 宝宝 对 我 笑 了 。Bǎobao duì wǒ xiào le.The baby smiled at me.
• 小狗 在 对 你 叫 。Xiǎogǒu zài duì nǐ jiào.The dog is barking at you.
• 你 不 应该 这样 对 父母 说话 。Nǐ bù yīnggāi zhèyang duì fùmǔ shuōhuà.You shouldn't talk to your parents this way.
• 他 总是 对 老师 撒谎 。Tā zǒngshì duì lǎoshī sāhuǎng.He always lies to his teachers.
• 不要 对 孩子 发脾气 。Bù yào duì háizi fā píqi.Don't lose your temper at the child.

Colloquial Saying

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 一点 也 不 容易 。Duì wǒ lái shuō, Zhōngwén yīdiǎn yě bù róngyì.To me, Chinese is not easy at all.
• 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.
• 这 件 衣服 对我 来说 太 奢侈 了 。Zhè jiàn yīfu duì wǒ lái shuō tài shēchǐ le.This piece of clothing is too luxurious to me.
• 这个 问题 对 一 个 五 岁 的 孩子 来说 太 复杂 了 。Zhège wèntí duì yī gè wǔ suì de háizi lái shuō tài shēn le.For a five-year-old kid, this question is too profound.

Other Usage

Certain verbs, specially phycological verbs, are often used with 对, which means 对 is needed if you want to add an Obj in the structure, such as 对...感兴趣 ("to be interested in..."). In this case, 对 means "in, on, about," etc. The short list below will give a few more verbs used with 对. Check it out!

• 对⋯⋯感兴趣 (gǎn xìngqù) to feel interested in
• 对⋯⋯负责 (fùzé) to be responsible for
• 对⋯⋯满意 (mǎnyì) to feel satisfied about
• 对⋯⋯好奇 (hàoqí) to feel curious about
• 对⋯⋯失望 (shīwàng) to feel disappointed about

Examples

• 我 儿子 对 学 外语 很 感 兴趣 。Wǒ érzi duì xué wàiyǔ hěn gǎn xìngqù.My son is very interested in learning foreign language.
• 你 应该 对 自己 的 工作 负责 。Nǐ yīnggāi duì zìjǐ de gōngzuò fùzé.You should be responsible for your job.
• 老板 最近 对 你 不 太 满意 。Lǎobǎn zuìjìn duì nǐ bù tài mǎnyì.The boss has been not very satisfied with you lately.
• 观众 对 比赛 结果 非常 失望 。Guānzhòng duì bǐsài jiéguǒ fēicháng shīwàng.Everyone is very disappointed with the result of the game.
• 我 的 小 女儿 对 什么 都 很 好奇 。My younger daughter is curious about everything.

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) (pp. 153) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 151) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 84, 88) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 198) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →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) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 11-2, 134) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy