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Using Prepositions 和 (hé) and 对 (duì) to Introduce Targets in Chinese
In Mandarin Chinese, the prepositions 和 (hé) and 对 (duì) appear before the main verb or adjective to introduce the person or thing affected by or involved in an action. While 和 marks an interactive partner or companion, 对 points toward the recipient of an action, speech, or attitude.
今天我和朋友去书店。
On the “with my friend” reading, 和朋友 introduces the companion before 去. This simple surface order can also be analysed as a coordinated subject; context helps determine the reading.
× 我去看电影和朋友。
Incorrect for the neutral “with my friend” pattern here. Move 和朋友 before 去看电影: 我和朋友去看电影。
Corrected example: 我和朋友去看电影。
Read the full explanation and examples
How Prepositions Introduce Targets Before the Predicate
The supplied HSK 1 outline lists 和1 and 对 under prepositions introducing participants or targets (引出对象). Unlike English phrases such as “with my friend” at the end of a sentence, these phrases normally precede the action or adjective they relate to. They do not have to sit immediately after the subject: another verb can precede them, as in 哥哥喜欢和老师说话.
Using 和 (hé) to Introduce a Companion or Partner
Learners first meet 和 (hé) as a simple conjunction meaning "and" between two nouns. Notice that the syllabus marks this item as 和1: here, it functions as a preposition meaning "with" or "together with" to introduce the partner involved in an action. The subject is the primary focus of the sentence, and the phrase starting with 和 shows who accompanies the subject or interacts with them.
今天我和朋友去书店。
On the “with my friend” reading, 和朋友 introduces the companion before 去. This simple surface order can also be analysed as a coordinated subject; context helps determine the reading.
哥哥喜欢和老师说话。
喜欢 is a verb meaning “like”, not an auxiliary here. It takes 和老师说话 (“talking with the teacher”) as what the brother likes.
To say that you do not join someone in an activity, a useful beginner pattern is 我不和他去, with 不 before 和. In 哥哥喜欢和老师说话, 喜欢 introduces the activity he likes. Do not treat these examples as a rule that every time word or negative must always appear before 和; other placements and analyses can express different meanings.
Using 对 (duì) to Point Toward a Recipient or Target
While 和 emphasizes companionship or shared participation, the preposition 对 (duì) marks directionality. It introduces the target toward whom an action, facial expression, spoken remark, or personal attitude is directed. It often translates to "to", "toward", or "for" in English.
她对我笑。
Here 对 introduces the directional target of the one-way action 笑.
爸爸对妈妈说：“明天见。”
Using 对妈妈 before 说 highlights the recipient of the quoted words.
Beyond physical or verbal actions, 对 is widely used before an adjective predicate to describe how someone treats another person, or what kind of effect something has on a target.
老师对学生很好。
With an adjective predicate like 很好, 对 marks the person receiving that attitude.
吃苹果对身体好。
The structure 对...好 is also used for beneficial effects on a non-human target.
Practical Contrast: Choosing Between 和 (hé) and 对 (duì)
Because both prepositions introduce a person before a verb, beginners sometimes wonder when they overlap and when they differ. The choice depends on whether the relationship is cooperative or one-way.
- Joint activities and two-way interaction: Use 和 (hé) for actions done side by side, such as going places, eating, studying, or chatting together.
- One-way actions and expressions: Use 对 (duì) when an action points outward at someone without requiring them to perform the same action back, such as smiling at someone.
- Attitudes and effects with adjectives: Use 对 (duì) when the main predicate is an adjective like 好 (hǎo, good/kind). You cannot use 和 to mean being kind to someone or good for something.
- Verbs of speaking: Both can appear before 说 (shuō, to speak) or 说话 (shuōhuà, to talk). Using 和 suggests talking with someone interactively, whereas 对 focuses on addressing a specific remark to a listener.
Common Learner Error: English Post-Verbal Word Order
A common beginner error is placing 和 + Person after the whole activity by copying English word order. In the neutral companion pattern taught here, introduce the companion before the activity instead.
× 我去看电影和朋友。
Incorrect for the neutral “with my friend” pattern here. Move 和朋友 before 去看电影: 我和朋友去看电影。
Corrected example: 我和朋友去看电影。
我和朋友去看电影。
Correct replacement: put 和朋友 before the activity 去看电影 to introduce the companion.
To say that the teacher treats students kindly, use 老师对学生很好. 对 introduces the students before 很好; do not simply attach 学生 after 好 to express this relationship. This is a rule for the meaning and pattern here, not a claim that every Chinese adjective behaves identically.
Frequently asked questions
How is the preposition 和 different from the conjunction 和?
As a conjunction, 和 means "and" and connects two equal nouns on the same level. As a preposition (listed as 和1 in this grammar point), it means "with" and introduces an accompanying target before the predicate. In many simple affirmative sentences the surface word order looks identical, but once you add adverbs or negation before 和, its role as a prepositional phrase becomes clear.
Can I use both 和 and 对 with the verb 说 (shuō)?
Yes, with a nuance difference. Saying 我和他说话 (wǒ hé tā shuōhuà) focuses on talking or conversing with him as a mutual partner. Saying 我对他说 (wǒ duì tā shuō) focuses on directing specific words toward him as the listener.
Does this HSK 1 label mean these items appear on every current HSK 1 test?
The Level 1 classification comes from the 2025-11 revision of the HSK outline (labeled for 2026-07 implementation). Because test centers and regions transition on official schedules, always check the syllabus version applied to your specific booked examination.
