對

Stroke order

對 (Kangxi radical 41, 寸+11, 14 strokes, cangjie input 廿土木戈 (TGDI), four-corner 3410₀, composition ⿰⿱业𦍌寸)

• 𠏮, 嚉, 㠚, 㦠, 𢷮, 濧, 𨘗, 㬣, 𣝉, 襨, 𦆹, 譵, 𨆷, 轛, 鑆, 𣌒, 𩟡, 𩼷, 薱, 䨴, 𤻫, 懟, 𨮝, 𩼸

• 対 (Japanese shinjitai)
• 对 (Simplified Chinese)

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 296, character 7
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 7457
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 511, character 9
• Unihan data for U+5C0D

Historical forms of the character 對
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script

In the oracle bone and bronze scripts, it was an ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) : 丵 (“tool for digging”) + 土 (“earth”) + 又 (“hand”). The original meaning of the character is unclear, but it may be “to develop (land)”. It was later borrowed for “to reply”. Compare 封, 邦.

In the seal script, 又 has become the related 寸. Shuowen has two seal script forms for this character: 𡭊 (main form) and 對 (alternative form). The main form, which has a 口 (“mouth”), was probably created to specialize the character to signify “to reply”, but this form was not inherited in later scripts. Shuowen interprets the latter form (shown above) as a form that Emperor Wen of Han created by replacing 口 with 士 (“soldier; warrior”) because many of the replies were untruthful (just lip service), but it is more likely that 士 is a corruption of 土.

Exoactive of 答 (OC *tkuːb, “to reply; to answer”) (Schuessler, 2007).

對

1. correct; true; right

   對啊！／对啊！  ―  Duì a!  ―  Correct!

   你說對了。／你说对了。  ―  Nǐ shuō duì le.  ―  You're right.

   Synonyms: 不錯／不错 (bùcuò), 沒錯／没错 (méicuò), 冇錯／冇错 (mou⁵ co³) (Cantonese)

   Antonym: 錯／错

2. to treat; to deal with; to take on

   對症下藥／对症下药  ―  duìzhèngxiàyào  ―  to prescribe the right medicine for an illness

   對事不對人／对事不对人  ―  duì shì bù duì rén  ―  to concern oneself with acts and not with individuals (when settling an issue)

   你怎麼對人家，人家就怎麼對你。 [MSC, trad.]
   你怎么对人家，人家就怎么对你。 [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ zěnme duì rénjiā, rénjiā jiù zěnme duì nǐ. [Pinyin]

   Others treat you the way you treat them.

   刀對刀，槍對槍／刀对刀，枪对枪  ―  dāo duì dāo, qiāng duì qiāng  ―  sword against sword; spear against spear

   廣東隊對香港隊／广东队对香港队  ―  Guǎngdōng duì duì Xiānggǎng duì  ―  Guangdong competes against Hong Kong

3. (introducing the recipient of the action) towards; to

   Synonym: 向 (xiàng)

   你對他說了些什麼？ [MSC, trad.]
   你对他说了些什么？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ duì tā shuō le xiē shénme? [Pinyin]

   What did you say to him?

   從不對困難低頭／从不对困难低头  ―  cóng bù duì kùnnán dītóu  ―  to never yield to difficulties

4. to; with regard to; concerning

   大家對你完全信任。 [MSC, trad.]
   大家对你完全信任。 [MSC, simp.]

   Dàjiā duì nǐ wánquán xìnrèn. [Pinyin]

   Everyone has complete faith in you.

   你為什麼對他那麼好？ [MSC, trad.]
   你为什么对他那么好？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ wèishénme duì tā nàme hǎo? [Pinyin]

   Why do you treat him so well?

   多吃蔬菜對身體好。 [MSC, trad.]
   多吃蔬菜对身体好。 [MSC, simp.]

   Duō chī shūcài duì shēntǐ hǎo. [Pinyin]

   Eating more vegetables is good for the body.

   你對什麼藥物過敏嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
   你对什么药物过敏吗？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ duì shénme yàowù guòmǐn ma? [Pinyin]

   Are you allergic to any medications?

   你對這件事有什麼看法？ [MSC, trad.]
   你对这件事有什么看法？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ duì zhè jiàn shì yǒu shénme kànfǎ? [Pinyin]

   What are your views on this issue?

   佢對噉嘅嘢冇咩興趣嘅。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   佢对噉嘅嘢冇咩兴趣嘅。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   keoi⁵ deoi³ gam² ge³ je⁵ mou⁵ me¹ hing³ ceoi³ ge³. [Jyutping]

   He doesn't have interest in that sort of thing.

   • 1982, “難忘您”, in 許冠傑 (lyrics), 難忘您·紙船, performed by 許冠傑:

     難忘妳對我那種體貼入微　時時刻刻腦海中都緊記 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
     难忘你对我那种体贴入微　时时刻刻脑海中都紧记 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

     naan⁴ mong⁴ nei⁵ deoi³ ngo⁵ naa⁵ zung² tai² tip³ jap⁶ mei⁴, si⁴ si⁴ hak¹ hak¹ nou⁵ hoi² zung¹ dou¹ gan² gei³ [Jyutping]

     I can't forget that attention you gave me; it's still stuck fast in my mind all the time

5. according to; for

   這個成績對我來說已經很好了。 [MSC, trad.]
   这个成绩对我来说已经很好了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè ge chéngjì duì wǒ lái shuō yǐjīng hěn hǎo le. [Pinyin]

   For me, this result is already very good.

6. opposite; opposing

   對岸／对岸  ―  duì'àn  ―  opposite bank; opposite shore

   對方／对方  ―  duìfāng  ―  other party

   對手／对手  ―  duìshǒu  ―  opponent

7. to face

   對著鏡子微笑／对着镜子微笑  ―  duì zhe jìngzǐ wēixiào  ―  to smile at the mirror

   窗戶對著馬路。 [MSC, trad.]
   窗户对着马路。 [MSC, simp.]

   Chuānghù duì zhe mǎlù. [Pinyin]

   The window faces the road.

   把槍口對準敵人／把枪口对准敌人  ―  bǎ qiāngkǒu duìzhǔn dírén  ―  to aim the gun at the enemy

8. paired; contrasting

   對調／对调  ―  duìdiào  ―  to swap

   對立／对立  ―  duìlì  ―  to be in opposition to

   對照／对照  ―  duìzhào  ―  a comparison; to contrast

   中日對譯／中日对译  ―  zhōngrì duìyì  ―  Chinese–Japanese bilingual text

9. to suit; to fit

   對心思／对心思  ―  duì xīnsī  ―  to think the same

10. to match; to cause two things to match

    對對子／对对子  ―  duì duìzǐ  ―  to match an antithetical phrase

    對不上／对不上  ―  duì bùshàng  ―  does not match

11. to respond; to answer

    無言以對／无言以对  ―  wúyányǐduì  ―  to be left speechless; to be unable to respond

    • 冉子退朝。子曰：「何晏也？」對曰：「有政。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
      冉子退朝。子曰：「何晏也？」对曰：「有政。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

      From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

      Rǎnzǐ tuìcháo. Zǐ yuē: “Hé yàn yě?” Duì yuē: “Yǒu zhèng.” [Pinyin]

      The disciple Ran returning from the court, the Master said to him, "How are you so late?" He replied, "We had government business."

12. to check by comparing; to verify by comparing

    對答案／对答案  ―  duì dá'àn  ―  to check answers

    對筆跡／对笔迹  ―  duì bǐjì  ―  to compare signatures

    對賬／对账  ―  duìzhàng  ―  to check bills

13. to adjust; to set
14. to mix; to add

    • 這酒是二斗糯米做出來的，二十斤釀；又對了二十斤燒酒，一點水也不攙。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
      这酒是二斗糯米做出来的，二十斤酿；又对了二十斤烧酒，一点水也不搀。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

      From: Wu Jingzi, The Scholars, 1750 CE

      Zhè jiǔ shì èr dǒu nuòmǐ zuò chūlái de, èrshí jīn niàng; yòu duì le èrshí jīn shāojiǔ, yīdiǎn shuǐ yě bù chān. [Pinyin]

      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

    • 二哥正跟小六兒往酒裡對水。為省錢，他打了很少的酒，所以得設法使這一點酒取之不盡，用之不竭。 [MSC, trad.]
      二哥正跟小六儿往酒里对水。为省钱，他打了很少的酒，所以得设法使这一点酒取之不尽，用之不竭。 [MSC, simp.]

      From: 1960s [2019], Lao She, 正紅旗下, Beijing: 北京联合出版公司, →ISBN, p. 59

      Èrgē zhèng gēn xiǎo liùr wǎng jiǔ lǐ duì shuǐ. Wèi shěngqián, tā dǎ le hěn shào de jiǔ, suǒyǐ děi shèfǎ shǐ zhè yīdiǎn jiǔ qǔzhībùjìn, yòngzhībùjié. [Pinyin]

      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

15. to divide in half
16. couplet

    流水對／流水对  ―  liúshuǐduì  ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)

17. Classifier for pairs of objects: pair

    一對夫婦／一对夫妇  ―  yī duì fūfù  ―  a couple

    兩對鞋／两对鞋 [Cantonese]  ―  loeng⁵ deoi³ haai⁴ [Jyutping]  ―  two pairs of shoes

    一對燕子／一对燕子  ―  yī duì yànzi  ―  a pair of swallows

18. pair

    鍵值對／键值对  ―  jiànzhíduì  ―  key-value pair

    密鑰對／密钥对  ―  mìyàoduì  ―  keypair

    鹼基對／碱基对  ―  jiǎnjīduì  ―  base pair

19. (Southern Min, Taiwanese Hakka) from

    我對基隆來。 [Hokkien, trad.]
    我对基隆来。 [Hokkien, simp.]

    Góa tùi Ke-lâng lâi. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

    I come from Keelung.

    • 2001, “家後”, 鄭進一, 陳維祥 (lyrics)‎^[1]performed by 江蕙 [Jody Chiang]:

      阮將青春嫁置恁兜　阮對少年跟你跟甲老 [Hokkien, trad.]
      阮将青春嫁置恁兜　阮对少年跟你跟甲老 [Hokkien, simp.]

      Gún chiong chheng-chhun kè tī lín tau, Gún tùi siàu-liân tòe lí tòe kah lāu [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

      I married my youthfulness to you; I followed you from my youth till I'm old.

    • 2019 December 13, “徙”, 陳美燕 [Mei-Yen Chen], 邱廉欽 [Kim Chiu], Uncle Willow, Regina Grounded (lyrics), 邱廉欽 [Kim Chiu] and 賴威成 [Andres Lai] (music)‎^[2]performed by 愛客樂 [iColor]:

      你對哪位來？對山肚　對窩壢靚靚客家莊 [Hailu Hakka, trad.]
      你对哪位来？对山肚　对窝坜靓靓客家庄 [Hailu Hakka, simp.]

      ngi duiˇ nai⁺ vui⁺ loi? duiˇ san` du´, duiˇ vo` lag ziang` ziang` hag ga` zong` [Taiwanese Hakka Romanization System]

      Where do you come from? From the mountains, from the pretty Hakka village in the valley

20. a surname

• (pair): (Cantonese) 啤 (pe1)

Others:

• → Ai-Cham: toi⁵
• → Vietnamese: đôi (“double”)
• → Old Turkic: tāy (“pair , side”)
  • → Azerbaijani: tay
  • → Turkmen: taý

• “Entry #10475”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2024.

(Hyōgai kanji, kyūjitai kanji, shinjitai form 対)

1. correct, right
2. facing, opposed

• Go-on: たい (tai)
• Kan-on: たい (tai)
• Tō-on: つい (tsui)^{←つゐ (twi, historical)}
• Kun: あいて (aite, 對)^{←あひて (afite, 對, historical)}、こたえる (kotaeru, 對える)^{←こたへる (kotaferu, 對へる, historical)}、そろい (soroi, 對い)^{←そろひ (sorofi, 對ひ, historical)}、つれあい (tsureai, 對い)^{←つれあひ (tureafi, 對ひ, historical)}、ならぶ (narabu, 對ぶ)、むかう (mukau, 對かう)^{←むかふ (mukafu, 對かふ, historical)}
• Nanori: つし (tsushi)

• 対

From Middle Chinese 對 (MC twojH).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [tɛ(ː)] ~ [te̞(ː)]
• Phonetic hangul: [대(ː)/데(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

 

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

對

Wikisource

對 (eumhun 대할 대 (daehal dae))

1. hanja form^? of 대 (“to answer; to reply”) [affix]
2. hanja form^? of 대 (“to face; to confront”) [verbal root; prefix; affix]
3. hanja form^? of 대 (“to be about; to concern”) [verbal root; prefix; affix]
4. hanja form^? of 대 (“pair; contrasting pair”) [noun; affix]
5. hanja form^? of 대 (“versus”) [noun]
6. hanja form^? of 대 (“opponent; counterpart; opposite; contrasting”) [affix]