Preposition: 对 (Towards a Person / Attitude)
介词：对
Use 对 to express attitude towards a person or to indicate the target of speech or action
Place 对 before the person or thing that is the target of an attitude or action. Follow with an adjective (to describe attitude) or a verb (to describe the action directed at them).
对 is one of the most versatile prepositions in Chinese. It can express attitudes (对他很好 — treat him well), communication targets (对他说 — say to him), and even opinions (对这件事有看法 — have an opinion about this matter).
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Preposition: 对 (Towards a Person / Attitude) (介词：对)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 介词：对 pattern
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Understanding 介词：对
If 向 points you towards a direction, 对 points you towards a person. 对 is all about interpersonal dynamics — how you treat people, what you say to them, and how you feel about things. 她对顾客非常热情 means "she is very warm towards customers." 这件事你对他说了吗 means "did you tell him about this?" The magic of 对 is that it covers both attitudes (对他好 — be good to him) and actions (对他说 — speak to him). It is the bridge between you and other people in your sentences. You will encounter 对 in descriptions of relationships (他对我很好 — he treats me well), in reporting speech (她对我说 — she said to me), and in expressing feelings about things (我对这个问题很感兴趣 — I am very interested in this question).
Key Points
- 对 (duì) = "towards / to / regarding" — targets a person or thing for attitudes or actions.
- 对 + person + attitude: 对他很好 (treat him well), 对她很客气 (be polite to her).
- 对 + person + speech verb: 对他说 (say to him), 对她解释 (explain to her).
- 对 + thing + feeling: 对中文感兴趣 (interested in Chinese), 对这件事很生气 (angry about this).
- 对……来说 = "for someone / from someone's perspective" — very common pattern.
- 对不起 (sorry) literally means "cannot face" — 对 as "facing toward."
- 对 vs. 给: 对 focuses on the attitude or direction of an action; 给 focuses on the recipient of something given.
In Chinese culture, how you treat others (对人怎么样) is a major measure of character. Saying 他对人很好 (he treats people well) is one of the highest compliments. Conversely, 他对人不好 is a serious criticism of someone's character.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
她对顾客非常热情。
She is very warm towards customers.
Describing an attitude
这件事你对他说了吗？
Did you tell him about this matter?
他对我很好。
He treats me very well.
我对这个问题很感兴趣。
I am very interested in this question.
对不起，让你等了这么久。
Sorry for making you wait so long.
老师对学生很有耐心。
The teacher is very patient with students.
对我来说，学中文很有意思。
For me, learning Chinese is very interesting.
她对这件事很不满意。
She is very unhappy about this matter.
Common Mistakes
The 对 + person phrase must come BEFORE the adjective, not after. Chinese word order: subject + 对 + target + description.
Both 感兴趣 and 有兴趣 are correct. 感兴趣 is more common in spoken Chinese.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Think of 对 as "towards" for people and attitudes. If you are describing how someone treats another person, 对 is usually the right word.
The pattern 对……来说 (for someone) is incredibly useful for expressing opinions: 对我来说, 对他来说, 对中国人来说.
Remember: 对不起 literally means "cannot face you" — understanding the 对 helps you remember it.
When you want to say "interested in X," always use 对 X 感兴趣 — this is a fixed pattern worth memorizing.
Homework
Write sentences describing how five different people treat others using 对: a teacher towards students, a parent towards children, a boss towards employees, a friend towards you, and you towards a stranger.