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Since "对 (duì)" and "给 (gěi)" both carry similar meanings to "to; for" in English, some Chinese learners find themselves puzzled by the precise usage of these two terms. In this article, We'd like to delve into the distinction between "对 (duì)" and "给 (gěi)." Let's unravel this together and clarify any confusion.
Firstly, "对" has another meaning as "correct; right" except as the main meaning of "to".
For example,
★ Nǐ shì duì de.
你是对的。
You are right!
★ Tāde huídá shì duì de.
她的回答是对的。
Her answer is correct!
Secondly, "给" also has another meaning as "to give". For example,
★ Gěi wǒ yībēi kāfēi, xièxie.
给我一杯咖啡，谢谢。
A cup of coffee, please！
★ Wǒ gěi péngyou yīge lǐwù.
我给朋友一个礼物。
I give my friend a gift.
However, today we would like to talk about the difference when they both as a preposition "to".
In oral Chinese, there are several frequently used structures as follows:
Part I
A 对(duì) B + 说(shuō)/笑(xiào)...
-- A said/smile to B
①
Wǒ duì tā shuō:" Nǐ jīntiān hěn piàoliàng!"
我对她说：“你今天很漂亮！”
I said to her: ”You are pretty today!”
②
Wǒ juéde tā xǐhuan wǒ, yīnwéi tā zǒngshì duì wǒ xiào.
我觉得她喜欢我，因为她总是对我笑。
I think she likes me because she always smiles to me!
Part Ⅱ
A 对(duì) B + 感兴趣(gǎn xìngqù)/有兴趣(yǒu xìngqù).
-- A be interested in B.
①
Wǒ duì lì shǐ gǎn xìng qù.
我 对历史感兴趣。
I’m interested in History.
Part Ⅲ
A 对(duì) B + 有帮助(yǒu bāngzhù)/ 没有帮助(méiyǒu bāngzhù)/有影响(yǒu yǐngxiǎng)/ 有印象(yǒu yìnxiàng)/有好感(yǒu hǎogǎn)/....
①
Kàn yīngyǔ diànyǐng duì xuéxí yīngyǔ yǒu bāngzhù.
看英语电影对学习英语有帮助。
Watching English movie is helpful to study English.
②
Diànshì duì háizi de xíngwéi yǒu yǐngxiǎng ma?
电视对孩子的行为有影响吗？
Does television have an effect on children’s behaviour?
③
Nǐ duì Zhōngguó de yìnxiàng zěnmeyàng？
你对中国的印象怎么样？
What’s your impression of China so far?
Part Ⅳ
A 对(duì) B + adj.
--adj words: 好(hǎo)/ 热情(rè qíng)...
①
Fúwùyuán duì wǒ hěn rèqíng.
服务员对我很热情。
The waiter is very warm to me.
②
Lǎobǎn duì wǒ hěn hǎo
老板对我很好。
The Boss is nice to me.
给 as a preposition, it means "for; to" and always followed by someone in the sentence.
Here are some structures as follows:
Part I
V + 给(gěi) + someone + O.
V: 送(sòng)/发(fā)/买(mǎi)/打电话(dǎ diànhuà)....
①Wǒ sòng gěi māma yīge lǐwù.
我送给妈妈一个礼物。
I buy a gift for Mom.
②Lǎoshī ràng wǒ fā gěi tā zuòyè.
老师让我发给她作业。
Teacher asked me to send homework to her.
③Nánpéngyou mǎi gěi wǒ yīge bēizi.
男朋友买给我一个杯子。
BF bought a cup as a gift for me.
Part Ⅱ
S+给+someone +V + O.
①Wǒ gěi māma mǎi le yīgè lǐwù.
我给妈妈买了一个礼物。
I bought a gift for Mom.
②Lǎobǎn gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà le 。
老板给我打电话了。
Boss call me.
③Wǒ gěi péngyou fā le zhàopiàn.
我给朋友发了照片。
I sent photos to my Friend.
④Zhè ge cài shì gěi nǐ zuò de.
这个菜是给你做的。
This dish is cooked for you.
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