Comparing "gen" and "dui"

跟 (gēn) and 对 (duì) sometimes seem like they mean the same thing, and at other times they seem to be different. You need to be aware which cases are which.

Used with 说 in the Same Way

When using the verb 说, 跟 and 对 can both be used in a similar sentence pattern. 跟 and 对 are both prepositions, and they both express one person speaking to another.

Structure

Person A + 跟 / 对 + Person B 说

Examples

• 我 跟 她 说 了，但是 她 不 信。Wǒ gēn tā shuō le, dànshì tā bù xìn.I told her, but she didn't believe me.
• 我 对 她 说 了，但是 她 不 信。Wǒ duì tā shuō le, dànshì tā bù xìn.I told her, but she didn't believe me.
• 他 对 我 说 他 爱 我。Tā duì wǒ shuō tā ài wǒ.He told me he loved me.
• 他 跟 我 说 他 爱 我。Tā gēn wǒ shuō tā ài wǒ.He told me he loved me.
• 刚才 你 对 他 说 什么 了？Gāngcái nǐ duì tā shuō shén me le?What did you just tell him?
• 刚才 你 跟 他 说 什么 了？Gāngcái nǐ gēn tā shuō shén me le?What did you just tell him?

Similar Structures but Different Meanings

跟 and 对 can both be verbs, and they are often used with 着, however their meanings are different.

Structure

Subj. + 跟 / 对 + Obj.

Examples for 跟

跟 can be a verb, and its simplest meaning is "follow." Often it is used as a verb phrase, such as 跟着, 跟上, 跟不上, or 跟得上.

• 这 只 小 猫 总是 跟着 我。Zhè zhǐ xiǎo māo zǒng shì gēnzhe wǒ.This little cat always follows me.
• 你 走 得 太 快 ，我 跟不上。Nǐ zǒu de tài kuài, wǒ gēn bù shàng.You walk too fast, I can't keep up.

Examples for 对

对 is also a verb, put it has the meaning of "towards" or "point to." Often it is used as: 对着, 对上, 对不上.

• 枪口 不 要 对着 人。Qiāng kǒu bùyào duìzhe rén.Don't point guns at people.
• 我 喜欢 对着 镜子 笑。Wǒ xǐhuān duìzhe jìngzi xiào.I like to laugh at myself in the mirror.
• 这 两 本 账 对不上。Zhè liǎng běn zhàng duì bù shàng.These two accounts don't match up.

When to Use 跟 and not 对

跟 is a preposition, and it can be used in comparison patterns. 对 cannot be used this way.

Comparison Structure with 一样

This structure is used to explain that two things are (or aren't) similar.

A + 跟 + B + （不）一样

• 我 跟 你们 不一样，我 还 有 孩子 呢。Wǒ gēn nǐmen bù yīyàng, wǒ hái yǒu háizi ne.I am not like you guys. I still have kids.
• 上海 跟 纽约 一样，都 是 国际 大 都市。Shànghǎi gēn Niǔyuē yīyàng, dōu shì guójì dà dūshì.Shanghai and New York are alike; they are both international cities.

Comparison Structure with 一样 + Adj.

This structure shows that two nouns are the same in some some aspect, which is the word that follows "一样."

A + 跟 + B + （不）一样 + Adj.

• 我 现在 跟 我 爸 一样 高。Wǒ xiànzài gēn wǒ bà yīyàng gāo.Now I'm as tall as my dad.
• 你 跟 你 妈 一样 喜欢 买 衣服。Nǐ gēn nǐ mā yīyàng xǐhuān mǎi yīfú.You like to buy clothes just like your mother.

跟 as "and" or "with"

跟 functions as a conjunction in this structure, joining two things together. Generally, these are nouns or pronouns (as with 和). 对 cannot function like this.

Subj. 1 跟 Subj. 2 + Verb-Obj.

• 你 要 跟 我 一起 去 吗？Nǐ yào gēn wǒ yīqǐ qù ma?Are you going to go with me?
• 鲜花 跟 巧克力 是 最好 的 礼物。Xiānhuā gēn qiǎokèlì shì zuì hǎo de lǐwù.Flowers and chocolate are the best gifts.

When to Use 对 and not 跟

Structure

When 对 as a preposition, it points to a certain target, since it can mean "facing" or "toward." 跟 can only be used this way with 说.

Subj. 1 对 Subj. 2 + Verb

Examples

• 那 个 美女 正 对 我 笑 呢。Nàge měinǚ zhèng duì wǒ xiào ne.That pretty girl is laughing at me.
• 不 要 对 老板 发脾气， 不然 后果 很 严重。Bùyào duì lǎobǎn fā píqì, bùrán hòuguǒ hěn yánzhòng.Don't lose your temper with the boss, otherwise there will be serious consequences.

See Also

• Expressing "with" with "gen"
• Using "dui"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 201) [ →buy]

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 465, 343) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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