How to Use Chinese Preposition duì (to, regarding) and duìyú (to, regarding)

Written by: Sujanti Djuanda • Edited by: SForsyth
Published Nov 30, 2010

Chinese beginners or foreigners often confuse between the usages of Chinese Preposition 对【duì】and 对于【duìyú】.

Chinese preposition 对【duì=to (someone), toward】is used between two persons then followed by an adjective. 对【duì= to (someone), at (someone)】is also used as an abstract direction between two persons then followed by a verb.

Chinese preposition 对【duì=to, toward, regarding, concerning, about】and 对于【duìyú=to, toward, regarding, concerning, about】are interchangeable when they are used for the object of an action.

I. Chinese Preposition: 对【duì】

对【duì=to (someone), toward】is used between two persons then followed by an adjective. Here you can't use对于【duìyú】.

Example 1:

The teacher is very good to me.

老师【lǎoshī=teacher】对【duì=to】我【wǒ=I】很【hěn=very】好【hǎo=good】。

老师对我很好。

Example 2:

He is wholeheartedly with me.

他【tā=he】对【duì=to, with】我【wǒ=I】全心全意【quánxīnquányì=wholeheartedly】。

他对我全心全意。

Example 3:

Lily doesn’t have any feelings to him.

丽丽【lìlì=Lily】对【duì=to】他【tā=he】没【méi=not】感觉【gǎnjué=feeling】。

丽丽对他没感觉。

b. 对【duì= to (someone), at (someone)】is also used as an abstract direction between two persons then followed by a verb. Here you can't use 对于【duìyú】.

Example 1:

Mother said to me that I must study hard.

妈妈【māma=mother】对【duì=to】我【wǒ=I】说【shuō=say】: “要【yào=must】努力【nǔlì=make great efforts, try hard】学习【xuéxí=study】”。

妈妈对我说：“要努力学习”。

Example 2:

He shakes hand to me.

他【tā=he】对【duì=to】我【wǒ=I】摇【yáo=shake】摇手【yáoshǒu=shake one's hand】。

他对我摇摇手。

II. Chinese Preposition: 对【duì】and 对于【duìyú】are interchangeable

a. 对【duì=to, toward】and 对于【duìyú=to, toward】are interchangeable when they are used for the object (includes animal, plant) of an action.

Example 1:

Younger brother is allergic to pollen.

弟弟【dìdi=younger brother】对【duì=to】花粉【huāfěn=pollen】过敏【guòmǐn=allergy】。

弟弟对花粉过敏。

弟弟【dìdi=younger brother】对于【duìyú=to】花粉【huāfěn=pollen】过敏【guòmǐn=allergy】。

弟弟对于花粉过敏。

Example 2:

British people generally have a kind of favorable impression on the dog.

英国人【yīngguórén=British people】对【duì=on, to】狗【gǒu=dog】，一般【yībān=general】都【dōu=all】有【yǒu=have】一种【yīzhǒng=a kind】好感【hǎogǎn= favorable impression】。

英国人对狗，一般都有一种好感。

英国人【yīngguórén=British people】对于【duìyú=on, to】狗【gǒu=dog】，一般【yībān=general】都【dōu=all】有【yǒu=have】一种【yīzhǒng=a kind】好感【hǎogǎn= favorable impression】。

英国人对于狗，一般都有一种好感。

b.对【duì=regarding, concerning, about】and对于【duìyú= regarding, concerning, about】are interchangeable when they are used for the object of an action.

Example 1:

Concerning this point, I don’t agree with you.

I don’t agree with you on this point.

对于【duìyú=concerning】这【zhè=this】一点【yīdiǎn=point】，她【tā=she】不【bù=not】同意【tóngyì=agree】我们的【wǒmende=our】意见【yìjiàn=opinion idea】。

对于这一点，她不同意我们的意见。

对【duì=concerning】这【zhè=this】一点【yīdiǎn=point】，她【tā=she】不【bù=not】同意【tóngyì=agree】我们的【wǒmende=our】意见【yìjiàn=opinion idea】。

对这一点，她不同意我们的意见。

Example 2:

Regarding the situation of our country, I'm perfectly clear.

对于【duìyú=concerning, regarding】我们【wǒmén=we】国家【guójiā=country】的【de】情况【qíngkuàng=situation】我【wǒ=I】一清二楚【yīqīng'èrchǔ=perfectly clear】。

对于我们国家的情况我一清二楚。

对【duì=concerning, regarding】我们【wǒmén=we】国家【guójiā=country】的【de】情况【qíngkuàng=situation】我【wǒ=I】一清二楚【yīqīng'èrchǔ=perfectly clear】。

对我们国家的情况我一清二楚。

Example 3:

Concerning his salary, he isn’t satisfied.

He isn’t satisfied with his salary.

他【tā=he】对【duì=concerning, regarding】他的【tāde=his】薪水【xīnshuǐ=salary】不【bù=not】太【tài=very, too】满意【mǎnyì=satisfied】。

他对他的薪水不太满意。

他【tā=he】对于【duìyú=concerning, regarding】他的【tāde=his】薪水【xīnshuǐ=salary】不【bù=not】太【tài=very, too】满意【mǎnyì=satisfied】。

他对于他的薪水不太满意。