Chinese Preposition – 對 / 对 duì

Grammar Point:
對对 duì is a versatile Chinese preposition used to indicate direction, target, or relation. It can mean “towards,” or “regarding,” “for.”

Structure

對对 duì + Topic + Adj. (Comment/Opinion)

It is used to indicate that an action is directed at someone or something or to express “regarding” or “concerning” a topic or subject.

男朋友nánpéngyǒu對duì我wǒ很hěn好hǎo男朋友nánpéngyou对duì我wǒ很hěn好hǎo
My boyfriend treats me well.

加拿大jiānádà人rén對duì人rén很hěn客氣kèqì加拿大jiānádà人rén对duì人rén很hěn客气kèqi
Canadians are polite to others.

我的wǒde父母fùmǔ對duì我wǒ很hěn失望shīwàng我的wǒde父母fùmǔ对duì我wǒ很hěn失望shīwàng
My parents are very disappointed in me.

我wǒ對duìTiffany 的de課kè很hěn滿意mǎnyì我wǒ对duìTiffany 的de课kè很hěn满意mǎnyì
I am satisfied with Tiffany’s class.

對对 duì + O + V (Action)

It expresses movement or orientation towards something in a physical sense.

她tā對duì我wǒ說shuō， 我wǒ是shì笨蛋bèndàn她tā对duì我wǒ说shuō， 我wǒ是shì笨蛋bèndàn
She told me I’m a fool.

每次měicì我的wǒde狗gǒu對duì空氣kōngqì大dà叫jiào， 我wǒ都dōu很hěn害怕hàipà每次měicì我的wǒde狗gǒu对duì空气kōngqì大dà叫jiào， 我wǒ都dōu很hěn害怕hàipà
Every time my dog barks at the air, I get scared.

孩子háizi對duì老師lǎoshī笑xiào孩子háizi对duì老师lǎoshī笑xiào
The child smiled at the teacher.

你nǐ對duì海鮮hǎixiān過敏guòmǐn嗎ma？ 你nǐ对duì海鲜hǎixiān过敏guòmǐn吗ma？
Are you allergic to seafood?

對对 duì + N + 有/没有 + N (Influence/Effect)

It expresses a cause-and-effect relationship, meaning “for” or “toward.”

我wǒ對duì名牌míngpái包bāo沒méi興趣xīngqù我wǒ对duì名牌míngpái包bāo没méi兴趣xīngqù
I am not interested in luxury handbags.

她tā對duì公司gōngsī有yǒu很hěn多duō不滿bùmǎn她tā对duì公司gōngsī有yǒu很hěn多duō不满bùmǎn
She has a lot of dissatisfaction with the company.

你nǐ不bù覺得juéde小王Xiǎowáng對duì小美Xiǎoměi有yǒu意思yìsi嗎ma？ 你nǐ不bù觉得juéde小王Xiǎowáng对duì小美Xiǎoměi有yǒu意思yìsi吗ma？
Don’t you think Xiao Wang has feelings for Xiao Mei?

我wǒ對duì沒有méiyǒu很hěn多duō錢qián的de工作gōngzuò沒méi耐心nàixīn我wǒ对duì没有méiyǒu很hěn多duō钱qián的de工作gōngzuò没méi耐心nàixīn
I am not patient with jobs that don’t pay well.