Comparing similar prepositions

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

morning朝cháo vs towards向xiàng vs towards往wǎng (towards)

Which way to face?

• Your photographer friend arranges a group photo by the sea.
• everyone大家dà jiāmorning朝cháoI / me我wǒto see看kàn，towards往wǎng左站zuǒ zhànerhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn ér。 – "Everyone look towards me, and move a bit to the left."

morning朝cháo, towards向xiàng, towards往wǎng = towards

• towards往wǎng + direction + verb = movement towards: 往前走wǎng qián zǒu, towards往wǎngleft左zuǒvariant of 拐拐guǎi, towards往wǎng北开běi kāi.
• morning朝cháo + direction / person = facing towards: 朝南cháo nán(modifier / structural particle)的deroom房间fáng jiān (a south-facing room), morning朝cháoI / me我wǒto laugh笑xiào.

this这zhè(measure word)个geroom房间fáng jiānfaces朝cháosouth南nán。

towards向xiàng is the widest

• towards向xiàng can do both: 向前走xiàng qián zǒu, towards向xiànghe / him他tāto wave (one's hand)挥手huī shǒu (wave to him).
• Only towards向xiàng is used for abstract "to": towards向xiàngteacher老师lǎo shīto ask for guidance请教qǐng jiào (ask the teacher), towards向xiàngyou你nǐto learn学习xué xí (learn from you).

we我们wǒ menshould应该yīng gāifrom向xiànghim他tālearn学习xué xí。

People and abstract actions

• towards往wǎng does not take people: towards向xiànghe / him他tāto apologize道歉dào qiàn, not towards往wǎnghe / him他tāto apologize道歉dào qiàn.
• Abstract verbs (to learn学习xué xí, to ask for guidance请教qǐng jiào, to apologize道歉dào qiàn, to express / indicate表示biǎo shì) take towards向xiàng, not morning朝cháo or towards往wǎng.

After the verb

• towards往wǎng / towards向xiàng can follow some verbs for a destination: 飞往fēi wǎngShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎi – "flying to Shanghai", direction走向zǒu xiàngsuccess成功chéng gōng – "head towards success".
• morning朝cháo does not follow the verb this way.

this这zhè(measure word)架jiàplane飞机fēi jīflies to飞往fēi wǎngShanghai上海Shàng hǎi。

Recap

• towards往wǎng = movement towards a direction; morning朝cháo = facing towards; towards向xiàng = both, plus abstract "to" with people.
• Abstract verbs (to learn学习xué xí, to apologize道歉dào qiàn) take towards向xiàng; 飞往fēi wǎng / direction走向zǒu xiàng put the word after the verb.

Practise this pattern step by step.

to / towards / correct对duì vs regarding对于duì yú (to/toward vs regarding)

Kind to him, regarding the plan

• In a meeting, you describe a new colleague and give your view on a proposal.
• he / him他tāto / towards / correct对duìeveryone大家dà jiādegree / adjective linker很hěnpolite客气kè qì。regarding对于duì yúthis这个zhè geplan方案fāng àn，I / me我wǒto have / there is有yǒudifferent不同bù tóng(modifier / structural particle)的deway of looking at a thing看法kàn fǎ。 – "He's very polite to everyone. Regarding this proposal, I see it differently."

to / towards / correct对duì = to, towards (people and attitudes)

• to / towards / correct对duì + person for attitudes and treatment: to / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo, to / towards / correct对duìhe / him他tādegree / adjective linker很hěnpolite客气kè qì, to / towards / correct对duìchild孩子hái zidegree / adjective linker很hěnto be patient耐心nài xīn.
• Also before many fixed phrases: to / towards / correct对duì…to be interested感兴趣gǎn xìng qù, to / towards / correct对duì…to have / there is有yǒubenefit好处hǎo chù.

the teacher老师lǎo shīto对duìstudents学生xué shengvery很hěnpatient耐心nài xīn。

regarding对于duì yú = regarding (issues and topics)

• regarding对于duì yú + issue, usually at the start: regarding对于duì yúthis这个zhè gequestion问题wèn tí，everyone大家dà jiāidea意见yì jiànnot不bùone / a一yī.
• regarding对于duì yú is more formal and does not take people for treatment: he / him他tāto / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo, not he / him他tāregarding对于duì yúI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo.

regarding对于duì yúthis这个zhè geissue问题wèn tí，everyone's大家dà jiāopinions意见yì jiàndiffer不一bù yī。

to / towards / correct对duì can replace regarding对于duì yú, not the reverse

• Wherever regarding对于duì yú works, to / towards / correct对duì usually works too: to / towards / correct对duì((of time or place) in于yú)this这个zhè gequestion问题wèn tí….
• But treatment of people needs to / towards / correct对duì: to / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo, to / towards / correct对duìhe / him他tāvariant of 说说shuō, not regarding对于duì yúI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo / regarding对于duì yúhe / him他tāvariant of 说说shuō.

to / towards / correct对duì…来说lái shuō and regarding对于duì yú…来说lái shuō

• Both mean "for, as far as … is concerned": to / towards / correct对duì((of time or place) in于yú)student学生xué shēng来说lái shuō，(concept of) time时间shí jiāndegree / adjective linker很hěnimportant重要zhòng yào.
• regarding对于duì yú sounds more formal, suitable for essays.

for对于duì yústudents学生xué sheng(as far as)来说lái shuō，time时间shí jiānvery很hěnimportant重要zhòng yào。

Recap

• to / towards / correct对duì = to / towards (people, treatment, attitudes); regarding对于duì yú = regarding (issues, formal).
• Check the construction rather than whether a person is named: regarding对于duì yú can introduce a viewpoint about a person, but does not replace to / towards / correct对duì in every attitude or treatment phrase.

Practise this pattern step by step.

pertaining to关于guān yú vs regarding对于duì yú vs as for至于zhì yú

Three ways to bring up a topic

• You are writing an email planning a school trip.
• pertaining to关于guān yúto set off出发chū fā(concept of) time时间shí jiān，we / us我们wǒ mennext week下周xià zhōuto decide (to do something)决定jué dìng。as for至于zhì yúto live住zhùwhere哪儿nǎr，everyone大家dà jiācan / may可以kě yǐ先提xiān títo propose建议jiàn yì。 – "As for the departure time, we'll decide next week. As for where to stay, everyone can make suggestions first."

pertaining to关于guān yú = about (topic, content)

• pertaining to关于guān yú + topic introduces what something is about: pertaining to关于guān yúenvironment环境huán jìng(modifier / structural particle)的dearticle文章wén zhāng, pertaining to关于guān yú这件zhè jiànmatter事shì.
• It goes before the subject, never after it.

about关于guān yúthis matter这件事zhè jiàn shì，I我wǒnot very不太bú tàiclear清楚qīng chu。

regarding对于duì yú = regarding (attitude) and as for至于zhì yú = as for (a new topic)

• regarding对于duì yú + issue introduces something you have an opinion on: regarding对于duì yúthis这个zhè geto decide (to do something)决定jué dìng，I / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěnsatisfied满意mǎn yì.
• as for至于zhì yú + new topic switches to a related but separate point: I / me我wǒto be responsible for负责fù zéto book tickets订票dìng piào，as for至于zhì yúwine shop酒店jiǔ diàn，you你nǐto come来láito choose选xuǎn(suggestion)吧ba.

I我wǒam in charge of负责fù zébooking tickets订票dìng piào，as for至于zhì yúthe hotel酒店jiǔ diàn，you你nǐ(do it)来láichoose选xuǎn吧ba。

as for至于zhì yú needs a first topic

• as for至于zhì yú comes after something else has been said; it cannot open a conversation.
• pertaining to关于guān yú cannot follow the subject: pertaining to关于guān yú这件zhè jiànmatter事shì，I / me我wǒ…, not I / me我wǒpertaining to关于guān yú这件zhè jiànmatter事shì….

Choosing

• Title or content: pertaining to关于guān yú. Attitude or judgement: regarding对于duì yú. Switching to another point: as for至于zhì yú.
• as for至于zhì yúoutcome结果jié guǒhow about怎么样zěn me yàng，we / us我们wǒ menafter以后yǐ hòuto say again再说zài shuō。 – "As for how it turns out, we'll see later."

as for至于zhì yúthe result结果jié guǒhow it turns out怎么样zěn me yàng，later以后yǐ hòuwe'll see再说zài shuō。

Recap

• pertaining to关于guān yú = about (topic); regarding对于duì yú = regarding (attitude); as for至于zhì yú = as for (switching to a new point).
• as for至于zhì yú needs an earlier topic; pertaining to关于guān yú goes before the subject.

Practise this pattern step by step.

to / for / give给gěi vs for为wèi (to/for vs for the sake of)

A gift and a sacrifice

• Your mother works late every night to support the family.
• mama妈妈mā māin order to为了wèi lewe / us我们wǒ menevery day每天měi tiānto work工作gōng zuòto / arrive到dàodegree / adjective linker很hěnevening晚wǎn，I / me我wǒwant / think / miss想xiǎngto / for / give给gěishe / her她tāto buy买mǎi一份yī fèngift礼物lǐ wù。 – "Mum works late every day for us; I want to buy her a present."

to / for / give给gěi = to / for (a recipient)

• to / for / give给gěi + person + verb = do something for / to someone who receives it: to / for / give给gěishe / her她tāto buy买mǎigift礼物lǐ wù, to / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà, to / for / give给gěiyou你nǐto introduce (sb to sb)介绍jiè shào.
• The person gets the thing or the service.

I我wǒfor给gěiMum妈妈mā mabuy买mǎi了lea bunch of一束yí shùflowers花huā。

for为wèi = for the sake of, because of

• for为wèi + person / cause + verb = for the sake of, on behalf of: for为wèieveryone大家dà jiāto serve服务fú wù, for为wèiyou你nǐhappy高兴gāo xìng, for为wèichild孩子hái zianxious担心dān xīn.
• for为wèi often goes with feelings and effort.

we我们wǒ menall都dōufor为wèiyou你nǐare happy高兴gāo xìng。

Receiving versus caring

• to / for / give给gěi + person = they receive something: to / for / give给gěihe / him他tāto write a letter写信xiě xìn. for为wèi + person = on their behalf or about them: for为wèihe / him他tāanxious担心dān xīn.
• Feelings take for为wèi, not to / for / give给gěi: I / me我wǒfor为wèiyou你nǐhappy高兴gāo xìng, not I / me我wǒto / for / give给gěiyou你nǐhappy高兴gāo xìng.

Where both work

• "Do something for someone" can sometimes take either: to / for / give给gěi / for为wèieveryone大家dà jiāto prepare a meal做饭zuò fàn.
• to / for / give给gěi is more everyday; for为wèi sounds more formal or dedicated: for为wèithe people人民rén mínto serve服务fú wù – "serve the people".

for为wèithe people人民rén mínserve服务fú wù。

Recap

• to / for / give给gěi = to / for a recipient (to / for / give给gěishe / her她tāto buy买mǎi, to / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà); for为wèi = for the sake of / because of (for为wèiyou你nǐhappy高兴gāo xìng, for为wèichild孩子hái zianxious担心dān xīn).
• Feelings take for为wèi; service can take either (to / for / give给gěi everyday, for为wèi formal).

Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

morning朝cháo vs towards向xiàng vs towards往wǎng (towards)

2701.1 Complete: “We should learn from her.” we / us我们wǒ menshould应该yīng gāi…………she / her她tāto learn学习xué xí。

2701.2 Which is wrong?

• A. towards向xiànghe / him他tāto apologize道歉dào qiàn
• B. towards往wǎnghe / him他tāto apologize道歉dào qiàn
• C. 往前走wǎng qián zǒu
• D. 朝南cháo nán(modifier / structural particle)的dewindow窗户chuāng hù

2701.3 Build: “This plane flies to Shanghai.”

Arrange all chunks: 飞往fēi wǎng / this这zhè架飞机jià fēi jī / Shanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎi。

2701.4 朝南cháo nán(modifier / structural particle)的deroom房间fáng jiān means a south-facing room.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2701.5 Your photographer friend arranges a group photo by the sea. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

to / towards / correct对duì vs regarding对于duì yú (to/toward vs regarding)

2702.1 Complete: “She is very kind to me.” she / her她tā…………I / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo。

2702.2 Which is wrong?

• A. to / towards / correct对duìthis这个zhè gequestion问题wèn tí，I / me我wǒnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuidea意见yì jiàn。
• B. he / him他tāto / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěnpolite客气kè qì。
• C. regarding对于duì yúthis这个zhè gequestion问题wèn tí，I / me我wǒnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuidea意见yì jiàn。
• D. he / him他tāregarding对于duì yúI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěnpolite客气kè qì。

2702.3 Build: “Regarding this issue, opinions differ.”

Arrange all chunks: everyone大家dà jiāidea意见yì jiàn / ， / not不bùone / a一yī。 / regarding对于duì yúthis这个zhè gequestion问题wèn tí

2702.4 regarding对于duì yú…来说lái shuō is more formal than to / towards / correct对duì…来说lái shuō.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2702.5 In a meeting, you describe a new colleague and give your view on a proposal. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

pertaining to关于guān yú vs regarding对于duì yú vs as for至于zhì yú

2703.1 Complete: “I'll book the tickets; as for the hotel, you choose.” I / me我wǒto be responsible for负责fù zéto book tickets订票dìng piào，…………wine shop酒店jiǔ diàn，you你nǐto come来láito choose选xuǎn(suggestion)吧ba。

2703.2 A book title: “A Book about Chinese Food”. Which word fits? 《____China中国zhōng guóvegetable菜cài(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū》

• A. as for至于zhì yú
• B. pertaining to关于guān yú
• C. regarding对于duì yú
• D. to / towards / correct对duì

2703.3 Match each word to its job.

• 1. pertaining to关于guān yú
• 2. regarding对于duì yú
• 3. as for至于zhì yú

• A. regarding (attitude or judgement)

• B. as for (switching to another point)

• C. about (topic or content)

2703.4 as for至于zhì yú can open a conversation without any earlier topic.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2703.5 You are writing an email planning a school trip. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

to / for / give给gěi vs for为wèi (to/for vs for the sake of)

2704.1 Complete: “We're all happy for you.” we / us我们wǒ menall / both都dōu…………you你nǐhappy高兴gāo xìng。

2704.2 “Call me tomorrow.” Which fits? tomorrow明天míng tiān____I / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。

• A. to / for / give给gěi
• B. for为wèi
• C. towards向xiàng
• D. to / towards / correct对duì

2704.3 Build: “I bought Mum a bunch of flowers.”

Arrange all chunks: I / me我wǒ / to buy买mǎi(completed / change)了le / to / for / give给gěimama妈妈mā mā / 一束花yī shù huā。

2704.4 for为wèithe people人民rén mínto serve服务fú wù sounds more formal than to / for / give给gěithe people人民rén mínto serve服务fú wù.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2704.5 Your mother works late every night to support the family. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A learner says towards往wǎngteacher老师lǎo shīto ask for guidance请教qǐng jiào to mean ask a teacher for guidance. Repair the target phrase.

R2. Use it yourself. State the topic of a discussion and then change to a separate issue with as for至于zhì yú.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.