对 vs 对于 (to/toward vs regarding)
IntroducedTreatment of a person differs from a topic phrase
- A person treats you kindly.
- he他to对me我very很good好。 — to对 introduces the person towards whom the treatment is directed.
A person treats you kindly. What does 他对我很好。 communicate?
对 introduces the person towards whom the treatment is directed. 对于 often introduces a topic for evaluation. 对 and 对于 overlap in some topic phrases, but 对于我很好 does not naturally replace 对我很好 here.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is to对 vs regarding对于 (to/toward vs regarding). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
he他to对me我very很good好。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: He's very good to me: 他 ____ 我很好。
对 = to / toward (a person): 对我很好.
Read examples in context
regarding对于this这(measure word)个issue问题，I我have有views看法。
- In the opening example, he他to对me我very很good好。: to对 introduces the person towards whom the treatment is directed.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which can say “(be) good to me” (对 __ 我好)?
对我好 is fine; 对于我好 is not. 对 is broader.
Know the boundary
- regarding对于 often introduces a topic for evaluation.
- to对 and regarding对于 overlap in some topic phrases, but regarding对于me我very很good好 does not naturally replace to对me我very很good好 here.
对于 is more formal and used for a topic / issue.
Yes — 对于这个问题…; where 对于 fits, 对 usually also fits.
对于 can replace 对 in every sentence.
对于 often introduces a topic for evaluation. 对 and 对于 overlap in some topic phrases, but 对于我很好 does not naturally replace 对我很好 here. 对 introduces the person towards whom the treatment is directed.
Use the distinction
- to对 introduces the person towards whom the treatment is directed.
- regarding对于 often introduces a topic for evaluation. to对 and regarding对于 overlap in some topic phrases, but regarding对于me我very很good好 does not naturally replace to对me我very很good好 here.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar prepositions.
A person treats you kindly. 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.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.