Chinese Marking the Object – 对 duì

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 1
Grammar Point · HSK 1

对 duì — marking the object

In Chinese, 对 duì can have several meanings depending on context, but as a preposition it means “to” or “towards” — introducing the object a feeling, attitude, or action is directed at.

對/对 duì and 給/给 gěi

The good news: 对 duì always comes right before the object it’s marking, and the whole 对 duì + object phrase sits in front of the main verb or adjective — never after it.

1Structure

S + 对 duì + object + verb

她tā对duì我wǒ说shuō，我wǒ是shì笨蛋bèndàn
She told me I’m a fool.
孩子háizi对duì老师lǎoshī笑xiào
The child smiled at the teacher.
你nǐ对duì海鲜hǎixiān过敏guòmǐn吗ma？
Are you allergic to seafood?

S + 对 duì + object + adjective

男朋友nánpéngyou对duì我wǒ很hěn好hǎo
My boyfriend treats me well.
加拿大jiānádà人rén对duì人rén很hěn客气kèqi
Canadians are polite to others.
我wǒ对duì名牌míngpái包bāo没méi兴趣xìngqù
I am not interested in luxury handbags.
我wǒ的de父母fùmǔ对duì我wǒ很hěn失望shīwàng
My parents are very disappointed in me.
我wǒ对duìTiffany的de课kè很hěn满意mǎnyì
I am satisfied with Tiffany’s class.
📌 The whole phrase comes before the predicate

对 duì + object never moves after the main verb or adjective — the target always gets named first, then what’s felt or done about it.

2Common Mistakes

❌ 我wǒ有yǒu兴趣xìngqù名牌míngpái包bāo
✅ 我wǒ对duì名牌míngpái包bāo有yǒu兴趣xìngqù
兴趣 xìngqù can’t attach directly to its object — 对 duì has to introduce the object first.
❌ 男朋友nánpéngyou很hěn好hǎo对duì我wǒ
✅ 男朋友nánpéngyou对duì我wǒ很hěn好hǎo
对 duì + object always comes before the adjective, not after it.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01My mom is very good to my dog.
我wǒ妈妈māma对duì我wǒ的de狗gǒu很hěn好hǎo。
👆 Tap to reveal
02Are you interested in this book?
你nǐ对duì这zhè本běn书shū有yǒu兴趣xìngqù吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
03He is not very polite to people.
他tā对duì人rén不bù太tài礼貌lǐmào。
👆 Tap to reveal
04What do you think about this movie?
你nǐ对duì这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng有yǒu什么shénme看法kànfǎ？
👆 Tap to reveal
05I’m not interested in this job.
我wǒ对duì这zhè个ge工作gōngzuò没méi兴趣xìngqù。
👆 Tap to reveal
06The dog barked at the mailman.
狗gǒu对duì邮差yóuchāi叫jiào了le。
👆 Tap to reveal
07Are you allergic to peanuts?
你nǐ对duì花生huāshēng过敏guòmǐn吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
08She is very impolite to me.
她tā对duì我wǒ很hěn不bù客气kèqi。
👆 Tap to reveal
Related grammar
→给 gěi — marking a beneficiary(HSK 2) →想 xiǎng, 要 yào & 想要 xiǎngyào — “want”(HSK 1)

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