Difference between revisions of "Using "dui" with verbs"

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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.
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When using 对 (duì) as a [[preposition]], it means "to" or "towards" an object or target. As with all prepositions, you've got to watch out when using this word, as usage of 对 in Chinese doesn't always totally "make sense" or correspond to English at all.
  
 
== Basic Usage ==
 
== Basic Usage ==
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Note that you shouldn't be plugging in just any old verb here.
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Note that you shouldn't be plugging in just any old verb here; the ones that work with 对 are limited.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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*你 不 应该 这样 <em>对</em> <strong>父母</strong> 说话 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù yīnggāi zhèyang <em>duì</em> <strong>fùmǔ</strong> shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">You shouldn't talk to your parents this way.</span>
 
*你 不 应该 这样 <em>对</em> <strong>父母</strong> 说话 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù yīnggāi zhèyang <em>duì</em> <strong>fùmǔ</strong> shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">You shouldn't talk to your parents this way.</span>
 
*他 总是 <em>对</em> <strong>老师</strong> 撒谎 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒngshì <em>duì</em> <strong>lǎoshī</strong> sāhuǎng.</span><span class="trans">He always lies to his teachers.</span>
 
*他 总是 <em>对</em> <strong>老师</strong> 撒谎 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒngshì <em>duì</em> <strong>lǎoshī</strong> sāhuǎng.</span><span class="trans">He always lies to his teachers.</span>
*不要 <em>对</em> <strong>孩子</strong> 发脾气 。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào <em>duì</em> <strong>háizi</strong> fā píqi.</span><span class="trans">Don't lose your temper at the child.</span>
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*不要 <em>对</em> <strong>孩子</strong> 发脾气 。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào <em>duì</em> <strong>háizi</strong> fā píqi.</span><span class="trans">Don't lose your temper with the child.</span>
  
 
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== Colloquial Saying ==
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== Colloquial Expression 对……来说 ==
  
In English we say "to someone" or "for someone." In Chinese, the pattern is:
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In English we often start sentences with "to someone" or "for someone" when sharing that person's perspective. In Chinese, the pattern is:
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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While this pattern was too common to omit from this page, it's covered in more depth as part of [[Phrases using "laishuo"|phrases using "laishuo."]]  
 
While this pattern was too common to omit from this page, it's covered in more depth as part of [[Phrases using "laishuo"|phrases using "laishuo."]]  
  
== Special Usage ==
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== Usage with Specific Verbs ==
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Certain verbs, especially [[psychological verb]]s, are often used with 对, which means 对 is needed if you want to add an object into the structure. I good example is 对...感兴趣 ("to be interested in..."). In this case, 对 means "in, on, about," etc., and the object doesn't have to be a person. The short list below will give a few more verbs frequently paired with 对.
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== Structures ==
  
Certain verbs, especially 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!
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* 对⋯⋯感兴趣 (gǎn xìngqù)  to be interested in...
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* 对⋯⋯负责 (fùzé)  to be responsible for...
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* 对⋯⋯满意 (mǎnyì) to feel satisfied with...
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* 对⋯⋯失望 (shīwàng) to be disappointed in/with...
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* 对⋯⋯好奇 (hàoqí) to be curious about...
  
* 对⋯⋯感兴趣 (gǎn xìngqù)  to feel interested in
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== Examples ==
* 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:
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Some example sentences:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*我 儿子 <em>对</em> 学 外语 很 <strong>感 兴趣</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ érzi <em>duì</em> xué wàiyǔ hěn <strong>gǎn xìngqù</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My son is very interested in learning foreign language.</span>
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*我 儿子 <em>对</em> 学 外语 很 <strong>感 兴趣</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ érzi <em>duì</em> xué wàiyǔ hěn <strong>gǎn xìngqù</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My son is very interested in learning foreign languages.</span>
 
*你 应该 <em>对</em> 自己 的 工作 <strong>负责</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi <em>duì</em> zìjǐ de gōngzuò <strong>fùzé</strong> .</span><span class="trans">You should be responsible for your job.</span>
 
*你 应该 <em>对</em> 自己 的 工作 <strong>负责</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi <em>duì</em> zìjǐ de gōngzuò <strong>fùzé</strong> .</span><span class="trans">You should be responsible for your job.</span>
 
*老板 <em>对</em> 你 不 太 <strong>满意</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>duì</em> nǐ bù tài <strong>mǎnyì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The boss has not been very satisfied with you.</span>
 
*老板 <em>对</em> 你 不 太 <strong>满意</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>duì</em> nǐ bù tài <strong>mǎnyì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The boss has not been very satisfied with you.</span>
 
*观众 <em>对</em> 比赛 结果 非常 <strong>失望</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Guānzhòng <em>duì</em> bǐsài jiéguǒ fēicháng <strong>shīwàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Everyone is very disappointed with the result of the game.</span>
 
*观众 <em>对</em> 比赛 结果 非常 <strong>失望</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Guānzhòng <em>duì</em> bǐsài jiéguǒ fēicháng <strong>shīwàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Everyone is very disappointed with the result of the game.</span>
*我 的 小 女儿 <em>对</em> 所有 动物 都 很 <strong>好奇</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de xiǎo nǚ'ér <em>duì</em> suǒyǒu dòngwù dōu hěn <strong>hàoqí</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My younger daughter is curious about all the animals.</span>
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*我 的 小 女儿 <em>对</em> 所有 动物 都 很 <strong>好奇</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de xiǎo nǚ'ér <em>duì</em> suǒyǒu dòngwù dōu hěn <strong>hàoqí</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My younger daughter is curious about all animals.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 03:55, 23 November 2018

When using 对 (duì) as a preposition, it means "to" or "towards" an object or target. As with all prepositions, you've got to watch out when using this word, as usage of 对 in Chinese 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; the ones that work with 对 are limited.

Examples

  • 宝宝 笑 了 。Bǎobao duì xiào le.The baby smiled at me.
  • 小狗 在 叫 。Xiǎogǒu zài duì jiào.The dog is barking at you.
  • 你 不 应该 这样 父母 说话 。Nǐ bù yīnggāi zhèyang duì fùmǔ shuōhuà.You shouldn't talk to your parents this way.
  • 他 总是 老师 撒谎 。Tā zǒngshì duì lǎoshī sāhuǎng.He always lies to his teachers.
  • 不要 孩子 发脾气 。Bùyào duì háizi fā píqi.Don't lose your temper with the child.

Colloquial Expression 对……来说

In English we often start sentences with "to someone" or "for someone" when sharing that person's perspective. In Chinese, the pattern is:

对 + Person + 来说 ,⋯⋯

While this pattern was too common to omit from this page, it's covered in more depth as part of phrases using "laishuo."

Usage with Specific Verbs

Certain verbs, especially psychological verbs, are often used with 对, which means 对 is needed if you want to add an object into the structure. I good example is 对...感兴趣 ("to be interested in..."). In this case, 对 means "in, on, about," etc., and the object doesn't have to be a person. The short list below will give a few more verbs frequently paired with 对.

Structures

  • 对⋯⋯感兴趣 (gǎn xìngqù) to be interested in...
  • 对⋯⋯负责 (fùzé) to be responsible for...
  • 对⋯⋯满意 (mǎnyì) to feel satisfied with...
  • 对⋯⋯失望 (shīwàng) to be disappointed in/with...
  • 对⋯⋯好奇 (hàoqí) to be curious about...

Examples

Some example sentences:

  • 我 儿子 学 外语 很 感 兴趣Wǒ érzi duì xué wàiyǔ hěn gǎn xìngqù.My son is very interested in learning foreign languages.
  • 你 应该 自己 的 工作 负责Nǐ yīnggāi duì zìjǐ de gōngzuò fùzé .You should be responsible for your job.
  • 老板 你 不 太 满意Lǎobǎn duì nǐ bù tài mǎnyì.The boss has not been very satisfied with you.
  • 观众 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 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 animals.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books