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

对 + Person + Verb

Note that you shouldn't be plugging in just any old verb here. Certain verbs are often used with 对, and some even need 对 if you want to add an Obj. (like 感兴趣, explained below).

Examples

• 宝宝 对 我 笑 了 。Bǎobao duì wǒ xiào le.The baby smiled at me.
• 小狗 在 对 你 叫 。Xiǎo gǒu 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 。Bù yào duì háizi fā píqi.Don't lose your temper at the child.

Using 对 with 来说

Structure

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

对 + Person + 来说

Examples

• 对 我 来说，中文 最 难 的 语法 是 把字句 。 Duì wǒ lái shuō, Zhōngwén zuì nán de yǔfǎ shì bǎ zì jù.To me, the most difficult Chinese grammar is Ba sentence.
• 对 他 来说，家人 比 工作 更 重要 。Duì tā lái shuō, jiārén bǐ gōngzuò gèng zhòngyào.To him, family is more important than work.
• 对 老板 来说，赚钱 是 第一 。Duì lǎobǎn lái shuō, zhuànqián shì dìyī.To the boss, 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 shēn le.For a five-year-old kid, this question is too profound.

Other Usage

对 is also used in such structures as 对...感兴趣 ("to be interested in..."). The short list below will give a few more verbs used with 对. Check it out!

• 对⋯⋯感兴趣 (gǎn xìngqù) to be interested in
• 对⋯⋯负责 (fùzé) to be responsible for
• 对⋯⋯满意 (mǎnyì) to be satisfied with
• 对⋯⋯热情 (rèqíng) to be friendly to; to be enthusiastic about
• 对⋯⋯有帮助 (yǒu bāngzhù) to be helpful to
• 对⋯⋯的影响 (yǐngxiǎng) to have influence on

Examples

• 我 对 学 外语 很 感 兴趣 。Wǒ duì xué wàiyǔ hěn gǎn xìngqù.I am very interested in learning foreign language.
• 你 要 对 自己 的 工作 负责 。Nǐ yào duì zìjǐ de gōngzuò fùzé.You need to be responsible for your job.
• 老板 好像 对 你 不 太 满意 。Lǎobǎn hǎoxiàng duì nǐ bù tài mǎnyì.The boss seems not very satisfied with you.
• 这里 的 服务员 都 对 顾客 很 热情 。Zhèlǐ de fúwùyuán dōu duì gùkè hěn rèqíng.The waiters here are all very friendly to the customers.
• 这个 App 对 我 的 英语 学习 很 有 帮助 。Zhège App duì wǒ de Yīngyǔ xuéxí hěn yǒu bāngzhù.This method helps a lot with my English learning.
• 这 件 事 对 他 的 影响 很 大 。Zhè jiàn shì duì tā de yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.This piece of matter has a big influence on him.

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) (p. 153) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 151) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 84, 88) →buy
• Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 198) →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) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 11-2, 134) →buy