Simplified Chinese Prepositions: Zai, Gen, Gei, and Dui
Learn four everyday coverbs in simplified Chinese: 在 zài, 跟 gēn, 给 gěi, and 对 duì.
These little words do a lot of heavy lifting. Get them right, and your Chinese suddenly sounds far less like a dictionary fell down the stairs.
In Chinese, words like 在 zài, 跟 gēn, 给 gěi, and 对 duì often work as coverbs. That means they usually come before the main verb and add extra meaning like location, companion, receiver, or direction of feeling.
If English uses prepositions like “at,” “with,” “to,” or “toward,” Chinese often uses coverbs instead. Same job, different outfit.
Yak Snark Box
Do not try to translate every sentence word by word from English. Chinese does not care about your English sentence order. Chinese has its own plan, and honestly, it is usually cleaner.
How Coverbs Work In A Sentence
A very common pattern is:
Subject + Coverb Phrase + Main Verb + Object
One easy model:
我在学校学习中文。
Wǒ zài xuéxiào xuéxí Zhōngwén.
I study Chinese at school.
Quick Visual Cards
在 zài
at / in / on
Used for location or where an action happens.
跟 gēn
with
Used for doing something together with someone.
给 gěi
to / for
Used for the receiver or beneficiary of an action.
对 duì
toward / to / about
Used for attitude, feeling, or reaction toward someone or something.
在 zài: Location Or Where An Action Happens
Rule: Use 在 zài before a place to show where something is or where an action happens.
Pattern: 在 zài + place + verb
Example 1
我在家工作。
Wǒ zài jiā gōngzuò.
I work at home.
Example 2
他在北京学习。
Tā zài Běijīng xuéxí.
He studies in Beijing.
Example 3
我们在餐厅吃饭。
Wǒmen zài cāntīng chīfàn.
We eat at the restaurant.
Also useful: 在 zài can be the main verb “to be located at.”
我的手机在桌子上。
Wǒ de shǒujī zài zhuōzi shàng.
My phone is on the table.
跟 gēn: Doing Something With Someone
Rule: Use 跟 gēn before a person to show company or togetherness.
Pattern: 跟 gēn + person + verb
Example 1
我跟朋友喝咖啡。
Wǒ gēn péngyou hē kāfēi.
I drink coffee with a friend.
Example 2
她跟老师聊天。
Tā gēn lǎoshī liáotiān.
She chats with the teacher.
Example 3
你想跟我去吗？
Nǐ xiǎng gēn wǒ qù ma?
Do you want to go with me?
Small note: 跟 gēn can also mean “and” in casual speech, but as a coverb here it works like “with.”
给 gěi: To Someone Or For Someone
Rule: Use 给 gěi before a person to show who receives the action, or who benefits from it.
Pattern: 给 gěi + person + verb + object
Example 1
我给妈妈打电话。
Wǒ gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.
I call my mom.
Example 2
他给我发邮件。
Tā gěi wǒ fā yóujiàn.
He sends me an email.
Example 3
我们给孩子买书。
Wǒmen gěi háizi mǎi shū.
We buy books for the child.
Important: 给 gěi can also be a full verb meaning “to give.”
他给我一本书。
Tā gěi wǒ yì běn shū.
He gives me a book.
对 duì: Feelings, Attitudes, And Direction Toward Someone
Rule: Use 对 duì when the sentence is about attitude, opinion, reaction, or behavior toward a person or thing.
Pattern: 对 duì + person/thing + adjective or verb
Example 1
老师对学生很好。
Lǎoshī duì xuésheng hěn hǎo.
The teacher is very good to the students.
Example 2
我对这个问题很感兴趣。
Wǒ duì zhège wèntí hěn gǎn xìngqù.
I am very interested in this question.
Example 3
她对我笑了。
Tā duì wǒ xiào le.
She smiled at me.
Good instinct: If the sentence is about how someone feels or acts toward someone, 对 duì is often the one you want.
Useful Phrases And Real-Life Sentences
- 我在学校上课。
Wǒ zài xuéxiào shàngkè.
I have class at school. - 她在公司开会。
Tā zài gōngsī kāihuì.
She has a meeting at the company. - 猫在椅子下面。
Māo zài yǐzi xiàmiàn.
The cat is under the chair. - 我跟同事吃午饭。
Wǒ gēn tóngshì chī wǔfàn.
I eat lunch with my coworker. - 你可以跟我们一起去。
Nǐ kěyǐ gēn wǒmen yìqǐ qù.
You can go with us. - 他不想跟别人说话。
Tā bù xiǎng gēn biérén shuōhuà.
He does not want to talk with other people. - 我给你做饭。
Wǒ gěi nǐ zuòfàn.
I cook for you. - 请给我一点时间。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yìdiǎn shíjiān.
Please give me a little time. - 她给朋友写信。
Tā gěi péngyou xiě xìn.
She writes a letter to a friend. - 我对中文老师很尊敬。
Wǒ duì Zhōngwén lǎoshī hěn zūnjìng.
I have great respect for my Chinese teacher. - 他们对这个计划不满意。
Tāmen duì zhège jìhuà bù mǎnyì.
They are not satisfied with this plan. - 妈妈对我说：“快一点。”
Māma duì wǒ shuō: “Kuài yìdiǎn.”
Mom said to me, “Hurry up.”
Mini Comparison Table
| Word | Main Idea | Easy Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 在 zài | location | 在 zài + place + verb | 我在图书馆看书。 Wǒ zài túshūguǎn kàn shū. I read at the library. |
| 跟 gēn | with someone | 跟 gēn + person + verb | 我跟姐姐散步。 Wǒ gēn jiějie sànbù. I take a walk with my older sister. |
| 给 gěi | to / for someone | 给 gěi + person + verb | 他给我买咖啡。 Tā gěi wǒ mǎi kāfēi. He buys coffee for me. |
| 对 duì | toward someone or something | 对 duì + person/thing + adjective/verb | 我对历史很有兴趣。 Wǒ duì lìshǐ hěn yǒu xìngqù. I am very interested in history. |
Longer Table Of Words And Patterns
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 在 | zài | at / in / on | 我在办公室工作。 | Wǒ zài bàngōngshì gōngzuò. | I work in the office. |
| 在 | zài | located at | 书在包里。 | Shū zài bāo lǐ. | The book is in the bag. |
| 跟 | gēn | with | 我跟朋友去旅行。 | Wǒ gēn péngyou qù lǚxíng. | I travel with a friend. |
| 跟 | gēn | with | 她跟经理谈话。 | Tā gēn jīnglǐ tánhuà. | She talks with the manager. |
| 给 | gěi | to | 他给我回消息。 | Tā gěi wǒ huí xiāoxi. | He replies to my message. |
| 给 | gěi | for | 爸爸给孩子做早餐。 | Bàba gěi háizi zuò zǎocān. | Dad makes breakfast for the child. |
| 对 | duì | toward | 她对小狗很温柔。 | Tā duì xiǎogǒu hěn wēnróu. | She is very gentle toward the puppy. |
| 对 | duì | about / toward | 我对这个电影没兴趣。 | Wǒ duì zhège diànyǐng méi xìngqù. | I am not interested in this movie. |
Common Mix-Ups
在 zài vs 对 duì
Use 在 zài for where something happens.
Use 对 duì for attitude toward someone or something.
我在学校很开心。
Wǒ zài xuéxiào hěn kāixīn.
I am happy at school.我对学校很满意。
Wǒ duì xuéxiào hěn mǎnyì.
I am satisfied with the school.
跟 gēn vs 给 gěi
Use 跟 gēn for with a person.
Use 给 gěi for to or for a person.
我跟他吃饭。
Wǒ gēn tā chīfàn.
I eat with him.我给他做饭。
Wǒ gěi tā zuòfàn.
I cook for him.
Practice Section
Pick the best word: 在 zài, 跟 gēn, 给 gěi, or 对 duì.
- 我___朋友去看电影。
Wǒ ___ péngyou qù kàn diànyǐng.
I go to watch a movie with a friend. - 老师___我们很耐心。
Lǎoshī ___ wǒmen hěn nàixīn.
The teacher is very patient with us. - 她___上海工作。
Tā ___ Shànghǎi gōngzuò.
She works in Shanghai. - 我___妈妈买了一束花。
Wǒ ___ māma mǎi le yí shù huā.
I bought a bouquet of flowers for my mom.
Answers
- 跟 gēn
- 对 duì
- 在 zài
- 给 gěi
Common Mistakes And Fixes
- Mistake: Putting the coverb after the main verb.
Better: Put the coverb phrase before the main verb.
我在咖啡店学习。
Wǒ zài kāfēidiàn xuéxí.
I study at the café. - Mistake: Using 对 duì for physical location.
Better: Use 在 zài for location.
她在房间里。
Tā zài fángjiān lǐ.
She is in the room. - Mistake: Using 跟 gēn when the meaning is “for someone.”
Better: Use 给 gěi for receiver or beneficiary.
我给你订票。
Wǒ gěi nǐ dìng piào.
I book tickets for you. - Mistake: Forgetting that 给 gěi can also be a full verb.
Better: Learn both uses and watch the sentence pattern.
他给我礼物。
Tā gěi wǒ lǐwù.
He gives me a gift.
Quick Reference Summary
- 在 zài = at / in / on → location
- 跟 gēn = with → doing something with someone
- 给 gěi = to / for → receiver or beneficiary
- 对 duì = toward / to / about → attitude, feeling, reaction
- Basic order: Subject + coverb phrase + main verb
Final Yak Box
If you remember just one thing, remember this: 在 zài is about place, 跟 gēn is about company, 给 gěi is about receiver, and 对 duì is about direction of feeling. Four tiny words, a surprisingly large amount of chaos avoided.
FAQ
Is 跟 gēn the same as 和 hé?
Often yes in daily conversation. 跟 gēn and 和 hé can both mean “with,” but 跟 gēn sounds especially common in speech.
Can 给 gěi be both a coverb and a verb?
Yes. 给 gěi can mean “to give” as a full verb, and it can also mark the person who receives or benefits from an action.
Why is 对 duì not used for physical location?
Because 对 duì usually points to attitude, reaction, or direction toward someone or something. For physical location, 在 zài is the usual choice.
