对 (duì) and 对于 (duìyú) maybe be confused by Chinese learners as they advance into more complex grammar. This article will help in distinguishing the the two!

Same as prep.

When 对 and 对于 are used as prepositions, they are basically the same. As a matter of fact, when used this way 对 is just the simplification of 对于!

Structure

Examples

Duì yú zhè zhǒnɡ shì qínɡ , nǐ yǒu shén me kàn fǎ ?
对于 这 种 事情,你 有 什么 看法?
Duì zhè zhǒnɡ shì qínɡ , nǐ yǒu shén me kàn fǎ ?
对 这 种 事情,你 有 什么 看法?
These both mean "As for this kind of thing, what's your perspective?"

对 can be placed in more parts of the sentence

对 can be placed before the subject, after the subject, or after the adverb. 对于 in the middle of a sentence can only be placed after the adverb.

对 can be used as a verb

As a verb meaning "direction"
When 对 is used as a verb, it expresses the meaning of direction or purpose. It is often used in a verb phrase, like 对着, 对上, 对不上.

Examples

Qiānɡ kǒu bú yào duì zhe rén.
枪口 不 要 对着 人。
Don't point the gun at people.

As a verb meaning "to treat"
对 as a verb can also mean to 对待, meaning "to treat". When the verb is like this, 对 can be used for people or abstract things.

Examples

Wǒ de nán pénɡ you duì wǒ hěn hǎo.
我 的 男 朋友 对 我 很 好。
My boyfriend treats me very well.