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.

When they have the same form and same meaning when used with 说

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?

When they have a similar grammar structure but different meanings

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

Structure

Subj. + 跟 / 对 + Obj.

Examples for 跟

跟 is 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, 跟得上, 跟somebody + Verb.

• 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.
• 你 想 跟 我 去 吗？Nǐ xiǎng gēn wǒ qù ma?Do you want to go with me?

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 proposition, and it can be used in comparison. It will often have a supplementary explanation, similar to how 和 can be used (as in 我和你一样高). 对 cannot be used this way.

Structure 1

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

A + 跟 + B + （不）一样

Examples

• 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.

Structure 2

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.

Examples

• 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.

Structure 3

"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.

Examples

• 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.

Examples when to use 对 and not 跟

Structure

When 对 as a proposition, it points to a certain target,since it can mean "point to" or "toward to." 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.

Example Dialogue

• A: 那 个 帅哥 在 对 我 招手！A: Nàge shuàigē zài duì wǒ zhāoshǒu!That handsome guy is motioning for me to go to him!
• B: 那 你 要 跟 他 去 吗？B: Nà nǐ yào gēn tā qù ma?Well, are you going to go with him?

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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