Using "dui" with verbs

Level

B1 / HSK2
Level

B1
Level

HSK2
Similar to
- Expressing "for" with "gei" (B1)
- Expressing "toward" with "wang" (B1)
- Expressing "towards" with "xiang" (B1)
- Verbs followed by "gei" (B1)
- Verbs preceded by "gei" (B1)
- Comparing "dui" and "duiyu" (B2)
- Comparing "gen" and "dui" (B2)
- Expressing "for…" with "eryan" (B2)
Similar to
- Expressing "for" with "gei" (HSK2)
- Expressing "toward" with "wang" (HSK2)
- Verbs followed by "gei" (HSK2)
- Verbs preceded by "gei" (HSK2)
- Expressing "towards" with "xiang" (HSK3)
- Comparing "dui" and "duiyu" (HSK5)
- Comparing "gen" and "dui" (HSK5)
- Expressing "for…" with "eryan" (HSK5)
Used for

Describing actions
Keywords

对

When using 对 (duì) as a preposition, it is used to indicate "to" or "towards" a object or target. As with all prepositions, some care should be taken when using this particle, as 对 is much different from when it is used as a verb, indicating that something is correct.

Basic Structure

The structure is basically:

对 + Object + Verb Phrase

Examples

Here are some examples:

他对我笑。
我要对你负责。
她对我很客气。
你为什么对我有意见？
我对西安不熟悉。
抽烟对健康有害。

对 is also used in two set structures: 对……来说 ("for... [a person]") and 对...感兴趣 ("to be interested in...").

对……来说

The pattern is:

对 + Person + 来说

川菜对我来说太辣了。
对她来说英语很容易。
对我来说书法很有意思。

对……感兴趣

In English was say "to be interested in something." In Chinese, the pattern is:

对 + Object + 感兴趣

我对书法感兴趣。
谁对英语很感兴趣？
你好像对她不太感兴趣。

Sources and further reading

Books