Pattern: 对……来说 (As For / From the Perspective Of)
对……来说
Use 对……来说 to frame a statement from a specific person's or group's perspective
对……来说 frames a statement from a specific perspective. It translates as "for (someone)," "as far as (someone) is concerned," or "from the perspective of." The person/group between 对 and 来说 is the one whose viewpoint is being considered.
The phrase between 对 and 来说 can be a person, a group, or even an abstract concept. 来说 literally means "come to speak of it" — so the whole phrase means "speaking from X's perspective."
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Pattern: 对……来说 (As For / From the Perspective Of) (对……来说)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 对……来说 pattern
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Understanding 对……来说
The pattern 对……来说 is an essential tool for expressing how something relates to a specific person or group. It works like "for someone" or "from someone's point of view" in English. When you say 对日本留学生来说，汉字不太难, you are framing the difficulty of Chinese characters specifically from Japanese exchange students' perspective. This is powerful because it allows you to make nuanced statements — something might be easy for one group but hard for another. The pattern always comes at the beginning of the sentence (or clause), followed by a comma and then the main statement. The person or group placed between 对 and 来说 can be a specific person (对我来说), a group (对专家来说), or even an abstract concept (对这个问题来说). This structure is extremely common in discussions, debates, and essays, and mastering it will greatly improve your ability to express sophisticated ideas.
Key Points
- 对 + person/group + 来说 = "for (someone)" / "from (someone's) perspective."
- Placed at the beginning of the sentence, followed by a comma.
- The main clause after the comma gives the statement from that perspective.
- Common patterns: 对我来说, 对中国人来说, 对初学者来说, 对专家来说.
- Allows nuanced statements: what is true for one group may not be true for another.
- Very useful in essays, discussions, and expressing opinions.
Using 对……来说 shows cultural sensitivity — you are acknowledging that different people have different experiences. This is highly valued in Chinese communication, where considering others' perspectives (换位思考 huànwèi sīkǎo — "think from another's position") is seen as a sign of maturity and wisdom.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
对日本留学生来说，汉字不太难。
For Japanese exchange students, Chinese characters are not too hard.
对专家来说，这个问题很容易解决。
For experts, this problem is easy to solve.
对我来说，最难的是听力。
For me, the hardest part is listening comprehension.
对孩子们来说，这个游戏很有意思。
For children, this game is very interesting.
对初学者来说，声调是最大的挑战。
For beginners, tones are the biggest challenge.
对她来说，离开家乡很不容易。
For her, leaving her hometown is not easy.
对老师来说，每个学生都很重要。
For teachers, every student is important.
Common Mistakes
The person must go between 对 and 来说. The order is fixed: 对 + person + 来说.
对……来说 goes at the beginning of the sentence to set up the perspective before making the statement.
Do not add 的 after 来说 to modify a noun. 对……来说 is a complete phrase that sets up perspective for the whole sentence, not a modifier.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Start sentences with 对我来说 when giving your personal opinion — it sounds natural and mature.
This pattern is perfect for comparing perspectives: 对我来说很难，但是对他来说很容易.
Use it in essays to acknowledge different viewpoints — it makes your writing more sophisticated.
Common combinations to memorize: 对我来说, 对中国人来说, 对学生来说, 对专家来说.
Homework
Write six sentences using 对……来说 from six different perspectives: yourself, a child, a teacher, an expert, a foreigner learning Chinese, and a Chinese person. Each sentence should express how a different topic (food, language, work, etc.) relates to that perspective.