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

Subj. + 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 。Bùyào duì háizi fā píqi.Don't lose your temper at the child.

Colloquial Saying

In English we say "To someone or for someone." In Chinese, the pattern is:

Structure

对 + Party + 来说 ，⋯⋯

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Note that subject can be also placed before 对.

Examples

• 学好 中文 对 外国人 来说 不 容易 。Xuéhǎo Zhōngwén duì wàiguórén lái shuō bù róngyì.It is not easy to learn Chinese well for foreigners.
• 对 孩子 来说 ，这个 问题 太 复杂 了 。Duì háizi lái shuō, zhège wèntí tài fùzá le.This question is too complicated for kids.
• 对 你 来说 ，家庭 重要 还是 工作 重要 ？Duì nǐ lái shuō, jiātíng zhòngyào háishì gōngzuò zhòngyào?Is family or work more important to you?

Special Usage

Certain verbs, specially psychological 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

Some 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 对 你 不 太 满意 。Lǎobǎn duì nǐ bù tài mǎnyì.The boss has not been very satisfied with you.
• 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 所有 动物 都 很 好奇 。Wǒ de xiǎo nǚ'ér duì suǒyǒu dòngwù dōu hěn hàoqí.My younger daughter is curious about all the animals.

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