Are you correctly using 对 (dui) and 对于 (dui yu)? Many students confuse them without even recognizing it!
In this post, we will explain how to use 对 dui and 对于 dui yu, as well as common errors people make. We will provide easy tips to ensure you don’t make the mistakes again. You won’t ever be confused by these two again if you stay and watch this video till the end!
The meaning of 于 yu
于, a HSK Level 3 word, generally means “at,” “in,” “on,”, “to” or a sentence-final interrogative particle. It’s often used in formal or written Chinese and shows up in many set phrases like,
至于 (zhì yú) – as for; when it comes to
至于他会不会来，我不确定。Zhì yú tā huì bù huì lái, wǒ bù què dìng.
As for whether he will come, I’m not sure.
终于 (zhōng yú) – finally; at last
我们终于到了目的地。Wǒ men zhōng yú dào le mù dì dì.
We finally arrived at the destination.
由于 (yóu yú) – because of; due to
由于天气不好，活动被取消了。Yóu yú tiān qì bù hǎo, huó dòng bèi qǔ xiāo le.
Due to bad weather, the event was canceled.
属于 (shǔ yú) – to belong to
这支笔属于我。Zhè zhī bǐ shǔ yú wǒ.
This pen belongs to me.
于 has only three strokes, under the radical 二 (two). The other component is 亅 (jué), referred to as the hook.
What is 对 dui?
The next character we are looking at is 对. The character 对 (duì) is a commonly used character in Chinese and has various meanings and uses depending on the context. Frequently used words are,
反对 (fǎn duì) – to oppose; to be against
他反对这个计划。Tā fǎn duì zhè gè jì huà.
He is against this plan.
面对 (miàn duì) – to face; to confront
我们必须面对现实。Wǒ men bì xū miàn duì xiàn shí.
We must face reality.
对方 (duì fāng) – the other party; the other side
对方不同意我们的建议。Duì fāng bù tóng yì wǒ men de jiàn yì.
The other party disagrees with our suggestion.
对付 (duì fù) – to deal with; to handle
他不知道怎么对付这个问题。Tā bù zhī dào zěn me duì fù zhè gè wèn tí.
He doesn’t know how to deal with this problem.
对象 (duì xiàng) – target; object (of action or affection); partner
他是我的理想对象。Tā shì wǒ de lǐ xiǎng duì xiàng.
He is my ideal partner.
对（對 duì) is under the radical 寸. The other component on the left is 又. The Total number of strokes is five. The core meaning of this character, which originally appeared in Oracle Bone Script during the Shang Dynasty, is to reply or react. It started with the idea of replying to someone and later took on the meaning of opposing or being against something. It also came to mean “a pair” or “spouse” and could be used to mean “to check” or “to verify.” The character 对 is also used as a measure word for pairs of people or things. Plus, it works as a preposition in sentences. In modern Chinese, 对 can also mean “correct,” as the opposite of “wrong.”
How to use 对dui and 对于dui yu?
对 (dui) and 对于 (dui yu) are both prepositions that introduce the object of an action or behavior. For sentences using 对于, you can normally replace it with 对. But this is not the case for 对. 对 is a spoken word, but 对于 is a written language.
对 and 对于 are interchangeable when they are used before nouns to form prepositional phrases.
他对古董一窍不通。
Tā duì gǔdǒng yī qiào bù tōng.
He doesn’t understand antiques at all.他对于古董一窍不通。
Tā duìyú gǔdǒng yī qiào bù tōng.
He doesn’t understand antiques at all.*From the sentence, you know that the object the person does not understand is 古董 antiques.
对上海，他有很多美好的回忆。
对于上海，他有很多美好的回忆。
Duì (duì yú) Shànghǎi, tā yǒu hěn duō měi hǎo de huí yì.
He has many beautiful memories of Shanghai.
Differences
1. You cannot use 对于 after Modal Verbs and adverbs
他愿意对这件事负责。
Tā yuàn yì duì zhè jiàn shì fù é.
He is willing to take responsibility for this matter.Wrong to say, 他愿意对于这件事负责。
Can change to,
对（对于）这件事，他愿意负责。
他对（对于）这件事愿意负责。
他们可能对这计划有兴趣。
Tāmen kěnéng duì zhè jìhuà yǒu xìngqù.
They might be interested in this plan.Wrong to say, 他们可能对于这计划有兴趣。
Can change to ,
他们对（对于）这计划可能有兴趣。
对（对于）这计划，他们可能有兴趣。
你应该对所犯的错误表示歉意。
Nǐ yīng gāi duì nǐ suǒ fàn de cuò wù biǎo shì qiàn yì.
You should apologize for the mistakes you made.Wrong to say, 你应该对于所犯的错误表示歉意。
Can change to,
你对（对于）所犯的错误应该表示歉意。
对（对于）所犯的错误，你应该表示歉意。
他们都对新来的同学很友善。
Tāmen dōu duì xīn lái de tóngxué hěn yǒushàn.
They are all very friendly to the new classmate.Wrong to say, 他们都对于新来的同学很友善。
Can change to,
他们对（对于）新来的同学都很友善。
对（对于）新来的同学，他们都很友善。
2. 对 carries the meaning of “towards” or “facing, but not 对于
小明对妈妈说：“我爱你”
Xiǎomíng duì māma shuō: “Wǒ ài nǐ.
Xiaoming said to his mom, “I love you.
小明在对小丽眨眼睛。
Xiǎomíng zài duì Xiǎolì zhǎ yǎnjing.
Xiaoming is winking at Xiaoli.
他的家正对着一座山。
Tā de jiā zhèng duìzhe yī zuò shān.
His house is directly facing a mountain.
3. 对 carries the meaning of “to treat (someone or something).
彼得喜欢玛丽，所以对她特别照顾。
Bǐdé xǐhuān Mǎlì, suǒ yǐ duì tā tè bié zhào gù.
Peter likes Mary, so he takes special care of her.
他对小明很凶。
Tā duì Xiǎomíng hěn xiōng.
He is very harsh to Xiaoming.
你怎么对书这么不感兴趣？
Nǐ zěn me duì shū zhè me bù gǎn xìng qù?
Why are you so uninterested in books?
SUMMARY
1. Use 对 / 对于before nouns to form prepositional phrases.
2. You cannot use 对于 after Modal Verbs and adverbs without changing the sentence.
3. 对carries the meaning of “towards” or “facing, but not 对于.
4. 对carries the meaning of “to treat (someone or something) but not 对于.
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