Comparing "dui" and "duiyu"

对 (duì) and 对于 (duìyú) can be confusing because they overlap quite a bit in usage, but they are not entirely interchangeable.

对 and 对于 Are Equivalent When Used as a Preposition

When 对 and 对于 are used as prepositions to modify a verb, they are basically the same. As a matter of fact, when used this way 对 is just the simplification of 对于! 对于 sounds a bit more formal.

Structure

对／对于 + Object + Verb

Examples

In the following example sentences, 对 and 对于 are interchangeable.

• 对(于) 这 种 事情，你 有 什么 看法？Duì(yú) zhè zhǒng shìqíng, nǐ yǒu shénme kànfǎ?As for this kind of thing, what's your perspective?
• 我 对(于) 上海 从来 没 喜欢 过 也 没 讨厌 过。Wǒ duì(yú) Shànghǎi cónglái méi xǐhuan guo yě méi tǎoyàn guo.I've never liked or disliked Shanghai.

对 Is More Versatile within a Sentence

Both 对 and 对于 can be placed before or after the subject in a sentence. Unlike 对, however, 对于 cannot be placed after the adverb in the middle of a sentence.

Examples

• 对 这 个 问题，我们 都 很 感兴趣。Duì zhège wèntí, wǒmen dōu hěn gǎn xìngqù.
• 对于 这 个 问题，我们 都 很 感兴趣。Duìyú zhège wèntí, wǒmen dōu hěn gǎn xìngqù.

• 我们 对 这 个 问题 都 很 感兴趣。Wǒmen duì zhège wèntí dōu hěn gǎn xìngqù.
• 我们 对于 这 个 问题 都 很 感兴趣。Wǒmen duìyú zhège wèntí dōu hěn gǎn xìngqù.

• 我们 都 对 这 个 问题 很 感兴趣。Wǒmen dōu duì zhège wèntí hěn gǎn xìngqù.
• 我们 都 对于 这 个 问题 很 感兴趣。

All of the above examples mean "we are all interested in this problem."

对 Can be Used as a Verb

As a Verb Meaning "to face"

When 对 is used as a verb, it expresses "to face" or "to point at." It is often used in verb phrases like 对着, 对上, 对不上.

Subj. + 对着／对上／对不上

Examples

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

对 Can Be Used with Emotional Adjectives

To indicate to whom an emotional response is directed, you can use 对 but not 对于.

Structure

A + 对 + B + Adj.

Examples

• 他 对 工作 很 认真。Tā duì gōngzuò hěn rènzhēn.He treats his work very seriously.
• 我 的 男 朋友 对 我 很 好。Wǒ de nán péngyǒu duì wǒ hěn hǎo.My boyfriend is very good to me.

Common Mistakes

• 我们 都 对于 这个 问题 很 感兴趣。Wǒmen dōu duìyú zhège wèntí hěn gǎn xìngqù.
• 我们 都 对 这个 问题 很 感兴趣。Wǒmen dōu duì zhège wèntí hěn gǎn xìngqù.
• 他 对于 工作 很 认真。Tā duìyú gōngzuò hěn rènzhēn.
• 他 对 工作 很 认真。Tā duì gōngzuò hěn rènzhēn.

Example Dialog

• A: 对于 这 件 事，你 怎么 看？A: Duìyú zhè jiàn shì, nǐ zěnme kàn?What do you think about this?
• B: 我 对 她 很 了解，她 不 会 这么 做 的。B: Wǒ duì tā hěn liǎojiě, tā bù huì zhème zuò de.I understand her completely. She can't do it like this.

Sources and further reading

Books

• 对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (pp. 81) [ →buy]
• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 463) [ →buy]
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 134) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 343, 344) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

HSK5