对 vs 对于 (to/toward vs regarding)
Everyday aim, formal aim
- Both mean "to / toward / regarding" — but to / towards / correct对 is broader.
- to / towards / correct对 can target a person or attitude: to / towards / correct对I / me我good好 = "(be) good to me".
- regarding对于 = "regarding (a topic)", more formal; it can't replace to / towards / correct对 in to / towards / correct对I / me我good好.
to / towards / correct对 = to / toward (broad)
- he / him他to / towards / correct对I / me我very很good好 = "he's very good to me." (You can't say regarding对于I / me我very很good好.)
he他to对me我very很good好。
- to / towards / correct对I / me我very很good好 = "is very good to me."
Practice
He's very good to me: 他 ____ 我很好。
对 = to / toward (a person): 对我很好.
regarding对于 = regarding (a topic)
- regarding对于this这个question问题，I / me我to have / there is有way of looking at a thing看法 = "regarding this issue, I have views."
regarding对于this这(measure word)个issue问题，I我have有views看法。
- regarding对于this这个question问题 = "regarding this issue."
Explore
Which column does it belong in?
对 covers everything 对于 does — but actions and everyday degree phrases refuse 对于.
Practice
Which can say “(be) good to me” (对 __ 我好)?
对我好 is fine; 对于我好 is not. 对 is broader.
Practice
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.
Recap
Key idea
- to / towards / correct对 = to / toward (broad): to / towards / correct对I / me我good好 (can't use regarding对于 here)
- regarding对于 = regarding a topic (formal): regarding对于this这个question问题
- Where regarding对于 fits, to / towards / correct对 usually also fits — but not the reverse
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar prepositions.