đối với

Regarding / as Far as X Is Concerned

Level 4

Đối với translates to "regarding," "as for," "to," or "toward." It is used to frame a perspective or point out the target of an action or feeling.

How It Works

Understanding how to use đối với correctly is crucial for sounding natural in Vietnamese, as it replaces several different English prepositions depending on the context.

1. The Topic-Setter (Sentence-Initial)
When placed at the beginning of a sentence, đối với isolates a specific perspective or case. It is highly recommended to follow this phrase with a comma or the topic marker thì before starting the main clause.

Đối với tôi thì... (As for me / In my case...)
Đối với vấn đề này, ... (Regarding this issue, ...)

2. The Target Marker (Post-Nominal / Post-Verbal / Post-Adjectival)
When used after a noun, adjective, or verb, it indicates who or what that description or attitude is directed at.

Quan trọng đối với tôi (Important to/for me)
Thái độ đối với công việc (Attitude toward work)
Áp dụng đối với sinh viên (Applies to students)

3. Expressing Difficulty or Ability
A very common use case is placing đối với after adjectives describing difficulty, ease, or possibility to show who experiences that condition.

Việc này quá khó đối với tôi (This task is too difficult for me)

Important Nuances & Clarifications:

Not just for formal speech: Because it translates to clunky English phrases like "with regard to," learners often assume đối với is strictly literary. This is a myth. Native speakers constantly use phrases like đối với mình thì... in highly casual, everyday chats.
Vs. Với: với means "with" and implies interaction or accompaniment (e.g., talking with someone). Đối với means "toward" or "regarding" and implies a directed attitude or perspective (e.g., your attitude toward someone). Note: In casual spoken Vietnamese, the word "đối" is frequently dropped when used after adjectives (e.g., "quan trọng với tôi", "khó với tôi"), where "với" acts as a shorthand for "đối với".
Vs. Cho: English speakers often overuse cho because both can translate to "for." Use cho for benefaction (receiving a gift, doing a favor). Use đối với for perspective or relation (how something affects or appears to someone).
Vs. Về: về introduces the subject matter (a book about history), while đối với introduces a perspective or target (an attitude toward history). Note: When placed at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a topic, they can sometimes overlap (e.g., "Về vấn đề này..." and "Đối với vấn đề này..." both mean "Regarding this issue...").
Vs. Theo: theo means "according to" and introduces a source of information or alignment (e.g., theo luật - according to the law, theo tôi - in my opinion). Đối với introduces a target or frame of reference (e.g., đối với tôi - as for me / in my case).

Examples (6)

Đối với tôi thì chuyện đó không sao.
As far as I am concerned, that matter is fine.
Word by Word: Toward me TOPIC matter that not star.
Sentence-initial usage setting the perspective, naturally followed by the topic marker 'thì'.
Việt Nam là một đất nước rất đặc biệt đối với anh ấy.
Vietnam is a very special country to him.
Word by Word: Vietnam is one earth country very special toward older-brother that.
Post-adjectival usage indicating who the country is special 'to' or 'for'.
Thái độ của họ đối với nhân viên rất tốt.
Their attitude toward the staff is very good.
Word by Word: Attitude belonging-to them toward staff very good.
Post-verbal/noun usage indicating the target of an attitude.
Đối với vấn đề này, chúng ta cần cẩn thận.
Regarding this issue, we need to be careful.
Word by Word: Toward problem this, we need careful.
Used with an inanimate noun to introduce the topic of discussion.
Gia đình là quan trọng nhất đối với tôi.
Family is the most important thing to me.
Word by Word: Family is important most toward me.
A very common structure expressing personal values or importance.
Việc này quá khó đối với tôi.
This task is too difficult for me.
Word by Word: Work this too difficult toward me.
Used after an adjective of difficulty to express who experiences that condition.

Common Mistakes

Using 'cho' (for) instead of 'đối với' when expressing perspective or importance.
Việt Nam rất đặc biệt cho tôi.
Việt Nam rất đặc biệt đối với tôi.
English speakers often translate 'for me' literally as 'cho tôi'. However, 'cho' indicates receiving or benefaction (like buying a gift for someone). When expressing how something relates to someone's perspective or feelings, you must use 'đối với'.
Omitting 'thì' when using 'đối với' at the beginning of a sentence.
Đối với tôi tiếng Việt rất khó.
Đối với tôi thì tiếng Việt rất khó.
While grammatically permissible to omit it, dropping the topic marker 'thì' after an initial 'đối với' phrase makes the sentence sound translated and less natural to native ears.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

đối vớiLevel 4Regarding / as Far as X Is Concerned

Learn This First

To understand 'đối với', learners should first be familiar with the basic preposition 'với' (with) and the 'Topic + thì' structure, as 'đối với' functions as a formal topic-setter. Recognizing it as a Sino-Vietnamese term also helps in identifying its formal register compared to simpler ways of introducing a subject.

Words in This Pattern