Introducing the Other Party: 和 & 对
介词：和/对
Use 和 / 对 to mark the person an action is done WITH or TOWARDS
Both 和 and 对 are prepositions that introduce the other party of an action. 和 means "with" (joint action — eat, study, go); 对 means "to / towards" (action directed AT someone — smile at, say to, be good to).
和 = doing it TOGETHER (we both do it). 对 = doing it TOWARDS them (only the subject acts; they receive). Both phrases land BEFORE the verb. 跟 is the colloquial cousin of 和 and is introduced more fully at HSK 2.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Introducing the Other Party: 和 & 对 (介词：和/对)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 介词：和/对 pattern
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Understanding 介词：和/对
Two of HSK 1's most useful prepositions both introduce a PERSON, but in opposite directions. 和 puts the two of you side by side — "I and my sister go to China" — both of you do the action. 对 turns the action towards someone — "she smiles at me," "be nice to your mom" — only the subject acts; the other person is on the receiving end. Picture an arrow: 和 means the arrow has TWO tails (we both shoot); 对 means the arrow has ONE tail and ONE target. The 大纲 lists both as the HSK 1 object-introducing prepositions, so they belong in your first toolkit alongside 在.
Key Points
- 和 + person + verb = doing the action together: 我和姐姐一起去 (I go with my older sister).
- 对 + person + verb = action directed at that person: 她对我笑 (She smiles at me).
- 和 often pairs with 一起 (together) for extra clarity: 和朋友一起吃饭.
- 对 is the prep of feelings and treatment: 对…好 (be good to), 对…说 (say to), 对…笑 (smile at).
- The 和/对 phrase ALWAYS sits BEFORE the main verb — never after.
- 和 also doubles as the conjunction "and" between nouns: 苹果和香蕉 (apples and bananas).
- Ask "with whom?" with 跟/和谁: 你和谁去？ Ask "towards whom?" with 对谁: 他对谁说？
- A common HSK 1 noun-list pattern: 我对中国文化很感兴趣 (I'm very interested IN Chinese culture).
对父母好 (being good to your parents) and 对人有礼貌 (being polite to people) are core Chinese social ideals — you'll hear 对 in moral and family advice constantly. Notice how 对 reaches outward toward the recipient, the way Chinese ethics frames behaviour as something you direct at others.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
我和姐姐一起去中国。
My sister and I are going to China together.
和 = joint action; both go.
她对我笑了。
She smiled at me.
对 = action directed at me; only she smiled.
我们和老师一起吃饭。
We had a meal with the teacher.
请对妈妈好一点儿。
Please be a bit nicer to Mom.
老师对学生很好。
The teacher is very kind to the students.
对 + person + 好 = "good TO".
我想和你说一件事。
I want to tell you something.
他对我说："谢谢。"
He said to me: "Thank you."
对…说 is the standard way to report direct speech.
苹果和香蕉都很好吃。
Apples and bananas are both delicious.
Conjunction use — joins two nouns.
弟弟对小狗很好。
My little brother is very good to the puppy.
你和谁一起住？
Who do you live with?
Common Mistakes
对 + person always sits BEFORE the verb. Chinese sets the recipient first, then describes the action.
Only she is smiling — the action is directed AT me, not done with me. Use 对, not 和.
Learning Chinese is something we do TOGETHER with the teacher, not something the teacher directs at us. Use 和…一起, not 对.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Quick test: does ONE person do the action or do TWO people do it? Two = 和. One acts AT the other = 对.
对…好 / 对…说 / 对…笑 — memorise these three skeletons and you have most everyday 对 uses covered.
和 doubles as "and" between nouns. If you see it linking two things rather than introducing a person, it's conjunction-和, not preposition-和.
Mnemonic: 对 (duì) looks like a person bowing TOWARDS another. 和 (hé) shows two pieces of grain together — a partnership.
Homework
Write three sentences with 和 (joint action with a person), three with 对 (action directed at a person), and one with 和 as a noun-conjunction. Highlight each preposition / conjunction so you can see at a glance which role it's playing.