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 Pattern ==
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== Basic Usage ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
对 + Person + Verb  
+
Subj. + 对 + Person + Verb  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that you shouldn't be plugging in just any old verb here.
+
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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*宝宝 <em>对</em> <strong>我</strong> 笑 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>duì</em> <strong>wǒ</strong> xiào le.</span><span class="trans">The baby smiled at me.</span>
 
*宝宝 <em>对</em> <strong>我</strong> 笑 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>duì</em> <strong>wǒ</strong> xiào le.</span><span class="trans">The baby smiled at me.</span>
 
*小狗 在 <em>对</em> <strong>你</strong> 叫 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎogǒu zài <em>duì</em> <strong>nǐ</strong> jiào.</span><span class="trans">The dog is barking at you.</span>
 
*小狗 在 <em>对</em> <strong>你</strong> 叫 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎogǒu zài <em>duì</em> <strong>nǐ</strong> jiào.</span><span class="trans">The dog is barking at you.</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>
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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 zhèyàng <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">Bù yào <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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Colloquial Saying ==
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== Colloquial Expression 对……来说 ==
  
=== Structure ===
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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:
 
 
In English we say "To someone or for someone.In Chinese, the pattern is:
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
对 + Person + 来说
+
对 + Person + 来说 ,⋯⋯
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
+
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."]]
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
*<em>对</em> <strong>我</strong> 来说,中文 一点 也 不 容易 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duì</em> <strong>wǒ</strong> lái shuō, Zhōngwén yīdiǎn yě bù róngyì.</span><span class="trans">To me, Chinese is not easy at all.</span>
 
*<em>对</em> <strong>他</strong> 来说,家人 比 工作 更 重要 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duì</em> <strong>tā</strong> lái shuō, jiārén bǐ gōngzuò gèng zhòngyào.</span><span class="trans">To him, family is more important than work.</span>
 
*<em>对</em> <strong>老板</strong> 来说,赚钱 是 第一 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duì</em> <strong>lǎobǎn</strong> lái shuō, zhuànqián shì dìyī.</span><span class="trans">To the boss, making money comes first.</span>
 
*这 件 衣服 <em>对</em><strong>我</strong> 来说 太 奢侈 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu <em>duì</em> <strong>wǒ</strong> lái shuō tài shēchǐ le.</span><span class="trans">This piece of clothing is too luxurious to me.</span>
 
*这个 问题 <em>对</em> <strong>一 个 五 岁 的 孩子</strong> 来说 太 复杂 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí <em>duì</em> <strong>yī gè wǔ suì de háizi</strong> lái shuō tài shēn le.</span><span class="trans">For a five-year-old kid, this question is too profound.</span>
 
  
</div>
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== Usage with Specific Verbs ==
  
== Other Usage  ==
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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.
  
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!
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=== Structures ===
  
* 对⋯⋯感兴趣 (gǎn xìngqù)  to feel interested in  
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* 对⋯⋯有兴趣 (yǒu xìngqù)  to have an interest in...
* 对⋯⋯负责 (fùzé)  to be responsible for
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* 对⋯⋯感兴趣 (gǎn xìngqù)  to feel interested in...
* 对⋯⋯满意 (mǎnyì)  to feel satisfied about
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* 对⋯⋯负责 (fùzé)  to be responsible for...
* 对⋯⋯好奇 (hàoqí) to feel curious about
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* 对⋯⋯满意 (mǎnyì)  to feel satisfied with...
* 对⋯⋯失望 (shīwàng) to feel disappointed about
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* 对⋯⋯失望 (shīwàng) to be disappointed in/with...
 +
* 对⋯⋯好奇 (hàoqí) to be curious about...
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
 +
Some example sentences:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*我 儿子 <em>对</em> <strong>学 外语</strong> 很 感 兴趣 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ érzi <em>duì</em> <strong>xué wàiyǔ</strong> hěn gǎn xìngqù.</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> <strong>自己 的 工作</strong> 负责 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi <em>duì</em> <strong>zìjǐ de gōngzuò</strong> fùzé.</span><span class="trans">You should be responsible for your job.</span>
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*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 最近 <em>对</em> <strong></strong> 不 太 满意 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn zuìjìn <em>duì</em> <strong></strong> bù tài mǎnyì.</span><span class="trans">The boss has been not very satisfied with you lately.</span>
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*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 is not very satisfied with you.</span>
*观众 <em>对</em> <strong>比赛 结果</strong> 非常 失望 。<span class="pinyin">Guānzhòng <em>duì</em> <strong>bǐsài jiéguǒ</strong> fēicháng shīwàng.</span><span class="trans">Everyone is very disappointed with the result of the game.</span>
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*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">The audience is very disappointed with the result of the game.</span>
*我 的 小 女儿 <em>对</em> <strong>什么</strong> 都 很 好奇 。<span class="trans">My younger daughter is curious about everything.</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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (p. 153) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|76}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (p. 151) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|153}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 84, 88) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|151}}
* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (pp. 198) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075294 →buy]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|84, 88}}
* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (pp. 313) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
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{{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|198}}
*[[卓越汉语-公司实战篇]] (pp. 11-2, 134) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
+
{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|313}}
 +
{{Source|卓越汉语-公司实战篇|11-2, 134}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
[[Category:Prepositions]]
 
[[Category:Prepositions]]
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
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{{Translation|to}}
 
{{Translation|to}}
 
{{Translation|towards}}
 
{{Translation|towards}}
{{Basic Grammar|对|B1|对 + Person + Verb| 宝宝 <em>对</em> 我 笑 了。|grammar point|ASG8ICO9}}
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{{Basic Grammar|对|B1|Subj. + 对 + Person + Verb | 宝宝 <em>对</em> 我 笑 了。|grammar point|ASG8ICO9}}
 
{{POS|Prepositions}}
 
{{POS|Prepositions}}

Latest revision as of 08:53, 21 April 2021

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 zhèyàng 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⋯⋯有兴趣 (yǒu xìngqù) to have an interest in...
  • 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 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 is not very satisfied with you.
  • 观众 比赛 结果 非常 失望Guānzhòng duì bǐsài jiéguǒ fēicháng shīwàng.The audience 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