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:

对 + Party + 来说 ，⋯⋯

or

Subj. + 对 + Party + 来说 + Predicate

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

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 大部分 人 来说，家庭 比 工作 更 重要 。Duì dà bèfen rén lái shuō, jiārén bǐ gōngzuò gèng zhòngyào.To most people, family is more important than work.
  • 对 公司 来说，赚钱 是 第一 。Duì gōngsī lái shuō, zhuànqián shì dìyī.To the company, 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 fùzá le.For a five-year-old kid, this question is too complecated.

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 对 你 不 太 满意 。Lǎobǎn duì nǐ bù tài mǎnyì.The boss has been not 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

Sources and further reading

Books

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