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Level Independent Chinese · HSK 3

B1 Prepositions: 对, 关于, 为, 按照, 朝 and 通过

Chinese prepositions sit before the verb with their noun, and each has a narrower meaning than its English counterpart. "About" is 关于 for a topic but 对 for an attitude; "for" is 为 for a person but 为了 for a goal.

对 vs 关于

对 (duì) + person or thing: attitude or effect toward it. It appears in set frames like 对…感兴趣 (be interested in), 对…好 (be kind to), 对…有好处 (be good for). 关于 (guānyú) is "about, on the topic of", usually before a noun with 的 or at the start of a sentence.

  • 他对我很好。

    Tā duì wǒ hěn hǎo.

    He's very good to me.

  • 我对历史很感兴趣。

    Wǒ duì lìshǐ hěn gǎn xìngqù.

    I'm very interested in history.

  • 这是一本关于中国历史的书。

    Zhè shì yì běn guānyú Zhōngguó lìshǐ de shū.

    This is a book about Chinese history.

为 vs 为了

为 (wèi) + person + verb: for someone, on their behalf (为大家服务), and with feelings (为你高兴). 为了 (wèile) + goal: in order to.

  • 他们为大家服务。

    Tāmen wèi dàjiā fúwù.

    They serve everyone.

  • 为了健康，他不再抽烟了。

    Wèile jiànkāng, tā bú zài chōu yān le.

    He's stopped smoking for his health.

按照, 按

按照 (ànzhào) + rule or plan: according to. 按时 is "on time". 按 + unit: by the (hour, person).

  • 请按照要求做。

    Qǐng ànzhào yāoqiú zuò.

    Please do it as required.

  • 这里按小时收费。

    Zhèlǐ àn xiǎoshí shōu fèi.

    They charge by the hour here.

往, 向, 朝

往 (wǎng) + direction + verb gives directions. 向 (xiàng) + person or direction: toward, and with verbs like 学习 and 介绍, "from" or "to" a person. 朝 (cháo) is "facing": 房子朝南 (the house faces south).

  • 他向我走过来。

    Tā xiàng wǒ zǒu guòlai.

    He walked toward me.

  • 我们的房子朝南。

    Wǒmen de fángzi cháo nán.

    Our house faces south.

通过, 利用, and positions

通过 (tōngguò) + means: through, by means of. 利用 (lìyòng) + resource: make use of. 用 A 来 + verb: use A to do. For position, B1 adds 底下 (underneath), 背后 (behind, also figurative), 周围 (around) and written 内 (室内, 国内).

  • 我们是通过朋友认识的。

    Wǒmen shì tōngguò péngyou rènshi de.

    We met through friends.

  • 他利用周末的时间学习。

    Tā lìyòng zhōumò de shíjiān xuéxí.

    He uses his weekends to study.

  • 学校周围有很多饭馆。

    Xuéxiào zhōuwéi yǒu hěn duō fànguǎn.

    There are lots of restaurants around the school.

Common mistakes

  • ✗我感兴趣历史。

    ✓我对历史感兴趣。

    Wǒ duì lìshǐ gǎn xìngqù.

    感兴趣 can't take an object. The topic goes before it with 对.

  • ✗他关于我很好。

    ✓他对我很好。

    Tā duì wǒ hěn hǎo.

    Attitude toward someone is 对. 关于 is only for topics.

  • ✗我为了你高兴。

    ✓我为你高兴。

    Wǒ wèi nǐ gāoxìng.

    Feeling something for someone takes 为. 为了 introduces a purpose.

Questions learners ask

Is 向 the same as 往?

In directions they overlap: 向前走 and 往前走 both mean go straight ahead. Only 向 works with people (向他学习), and only 往 is used for destinations of transport (开往北京的火车, a train bound for Beijing).

Can 对 also mean "correct"?

Yes, as an adjective: 对 (right), 不对 (wrong). As a preposition it means toward or to.

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