adj., prep.
Matched face-to-face and measured to be exactly fitting. Correct, right; towards, to (a direction or recipient).
对
v., m.
to face; to match; a pair; a couple
Facing a target directly: 'toward someone', 'correct/matching', or 'a matching pair'.
Picture two arrows aligning: 对 means facing someone directly to direct speech or emotion (对他说, 对我很好), or two pieces matching up perfectly, hence 'correct' (对!) and 'a pair' (一对).
Common Usage & Traps
- 对他说 — say to him
- 对我很好 — treats me very well / very nice to me
- 对不对 — right or not? (tag question)
- 是对的 — is correct
- 不对 — incorrect, wrong
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说对他对他说In Chinese, you must face the person first using the bridge word 对 before launching the verb.
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他是好对我他对我很好The target phrase (对我) comes before the descriptive word (很好).
How can one character mean 'correct', 'toward', and 'a pair'?
The core image is 'facing / matching up'. Match fact = 'correct'; Face person = 'toward'; Match couple = 'pair'.
The three meanings share one single mental picture: two things facing each other and locking together. 1. When your answer matches the truth, it is 'correct': 对! (Right!). 2. When your eyes face a recipient, it is the bridge word 'toward': 对朋友说 (say to a friend), 对我好 (be nice to me). 3. When two partners form a couple, it is 'a pair': 一对 (a couple).
| Meaning | Function | Natural Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correct / Right | Adjective / Response | 你说得很对！ | What you said is very right! |
| Toward / Facing | bridge word before verb | 他对大家说：“请进。” | He said to everyone: 'Please come in.' |
| Treating someone | bridge word before 好/不好 | 妈妈对我很好。 | Mom treats me very well. |
How do you say 'He is very nice to me' in natural Chinese?
Use the formula: Subject + 对 [Someone] + 很好 (literally: Person toward me is good).
In English, people say 'She is nice to me', placing 'to me' at the very end. Chinese structure demands that the target person be positioned right after the subject, before the description: 他对我很好 (He toward me is very good). Saying 他是很给好我 or 他是好对我 is completely broken.
| English Thought | Natural Chinese (Subject + 对 + Person + 很好) | English-Minded Error |
|---|---|---|
| The doctor is nice to me | 医生对我很好。 | 医生是很好对我。 |
| He is good to his friends | 他对其朋友很好。 | 他是好给他朋友。 |
Why do native speakers say 对不对 instead of 对吗?
对不对? is the warm, natural 'Right?' tag question; 对吗? sounds slightly textbook or testing.
In spoken Chinese, native speakers love the A-not-A pattern to check in with the listener. Tacking 对不对? onto the end of an explanation is the exact equivalent of 'Right?' or 'Isn't that so?' in English: 我们明天去，对不对? (We're going tomorrow, right?). It actively invites the other person to nod along.
| Phrase | Vibe | Typical Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 对不对？ | Casual, engaging: 'Right? Isn't it?' | Checking in during natural conversation |
| 对吗？ | Formal, questioning | Checking if an exam answer is correct |
Appears in Stories 13 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
In this HSK 1 story, two old friends from Britain and China share a meal with their girlfriends. A simple question about who pays leads to a clever and funny solution.
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谢大中 对 大家说：“英国和中国是好朋友，是不是？”
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我的女朋友说：“ 对 ！
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
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A： 对 。
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A： 对 。
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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老先生看看大中， 对 大中说：“五年前，我儿子也在这家饭店工作。
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他 对 老先生说：“老先生，您来了！
Before you start learning Chinese, master the most important phrases: greetings. This short dialogue shows you how to say hello and goodbye, and how to respond politely.
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对不起 对 没关系！
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
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我的儿子 对 我说：“爸爸，我想去学校玩儿“。
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儿子 对 我说：“学校今天真的很热、很热”。
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
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大中吃好面条，都 对 老先生说：“谢谢您，面条很好吃。”
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老先生很高兴， 对 大中说：“不客气，多吃一点儿。”
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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对 方便面，很多人都有各种各样的消极的印象，比如没有营养、有毒，油、盐含量高等等。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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老先生 对 白天明说：“我八十岁了，儿子和女儿都在北京工作，我一个人住在这里。
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白天明 对 老先生说：“老先生，我天天都来这里和您说话。
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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谢医生 对 马家友说：“苹果不是医院给的。
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
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我 对 雨说：谢谢！
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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胡之适仍不忘 对 他的忘年交讲杜威的哲学。
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
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小米： 对 。
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
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老先生 对 高先明说：“去上学吧，上车。”
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高先明 对 老先生说：“谢谢您！
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