对
to, towards; for (good or bad for)
Structure
A 对 B + 形容词/动词
What it means
对 + a person or thing shows who or what is affected: 对我很好 “good to me”, 对身体不好 “bad for your health”, 对我说 “said to me”.
How it is built
A + 对 + B + adjective/verb: 看手机太多对眼睛不好 (Looking at your phone too much is bad for your eyes).
When to use it
Use it for how someone treats you (大家都对我很好, h2-1), what is good or bad for you, and who you speak to. This is not the 对 that means “right, correct” (对,是我).
Watch out
The 对 phrase comes before the adjective or verb, never after. ✗ 喝水好对身体。 ✓ 喝水对身体好。
Examples
老师对我们很好。
Our teacher is very good to us.
看手机太多对眼睛不好。
Looking at your phone too much is bad for your eyes.
王明对我说:“别怕!”
Wang Ming said to me, “Don’t be scared!”
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 9: 看中医 (Traditional medicine)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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