Coverbs and prepositions — what they really map to
Mandarin prepositions are technically 'coverbs' — they originated as verbs and still feel verb-y. They sit BEFORE the main verb, marking direction, target, source, or beneficiary. Many overlap with English prepositions but slice the world differently. 对 duì = toward / regarding (a person or topic). 跟 gēn = with / to (when speaking). 给 gěi = to / for (give-direction or beneficiary). 从 cóng / 由 yóu = from. 离 lí = at a distance from. 向 xiàng / 朝 cháo = facing / toward (direction of motion or attention). 由于 yóuyú = due to. 为了 wèile = for the sake of / in order to. 关于 guānyú = about / regarding (a topic). All sit before the main verb. Picking the wrong one is a hallmark mistake — the Chinese sounds 'almost right but off'.
对 — toward / to (regarding a person or topic)
对 duì marks the target of a feeling, attitude, or speech act — 'toward / regarding'. Sits before the verb. 我对中文很感兴趣。 = I'm very interested in Chinese (lit. toward Chinese, very interested). 他对我很好。 = He's very good to me. 我对这件事不太清楚。 = I'm not too clear about this matter. 她对我笑了笑。 = She smiled at me. Common pattern: 对 + N + Adj/V where the noun is the target of the attitude. Distinguish from 对 = correct (different word, different use): 你说得对 = you're right. The preposition 对 is one of the most common ways to introduce a person / thing being addressed. Compare 跟 (next): 对你说 suggests addressing someone formally / pointedly; 跟你说 is everyday 'speaking with you'. They overlap heavily — 对妈妈说 and 跟妈妈说 both work, with 对 a touch more directional / pointed.
跟 — with / to / and
跟 gēn has three flavors. (1) WITH (companion): 我跟朋友一起去。 = I'm going with my friend. 跟我来。 = Come with me. (2) TO (when speaking — interchangeable with 对): 跟我说。 = Talk to me. 我跟妈妈说了。 = I told mom. (3) AND (lesson 5 — joining nouns): 苹果跟橘子。 = Apples and oranges. The preposition flavor (1, 2) sits before the verb. The conjunction flavor (3) sits between nouns. Two key distinctions: 和 hé is the slightly more formal synonym for 'and' (lesson 5); 跟 is more conversational. For 'with' specifically, 跟 is the default; 和 can also work but feels slightly more formal. For speech, 跟 and 对 both work — 跟 is the safer everyday default.
给 — to / for (recipient or beneficiary)
给 gěi has two main uses as a coverb. (1) RECIPIENT — 'to' (mark who receives). 我给妈妈打电话。 = I'll give mom a call (lit. give-mom call-phone). The phone call goes TO mom; 给 marks her as the recipient. 他给我写信。 = He writes me a letter. (2) BENEFICIARY — 'for'. 我给你做饭。 = I'll cook for you. 她给孩子买衣服。 = She buys clothes for her child. The two flavors blur — both involve directing an action toward someone. 给 is also a full verb meaning 'to give' (lesson 18): 我给你一本书。 = I'll give you a book (here 给 is the main verb, no V2 follows). The coverb 给 is followed by V2 (打电话, 写信, 做饭); the verb 给 takes a direct object (一本书). Compare 为 wèi (formal 'for / for the sake of') — overlaps with 给 (beneficiary) but is more written. 为人民服务 = serve the people.
从 / 由 — from (source)
从 cóng = 'from' (a starting point). Sits before the verb. 我从北京来。 = I come from Beijing. 从家到学校 = from home to school (often pairs with 到, lesson 37). 从早上到晚上。 = From morning till night. 从 marks the source / starting point — physical, temporal, or abstract. 由 yóu is a more formal / written synonym, often in passive constructions or formal announcements: 这本书由他写。 = This book is written by him (formal). 由我来做。 = Let me do it (formal — I'll handle it). 由 also means 'by means of / via': 由此可见 = it can be seen from this (formal idiom). In casual speech, stick with 从. Don't confuse with 离 (next), which marks distance, not source: 从北京 = from Beijing (origin); 离北京 = away from Beijing (distance).
离 — at a distance from
离 lí marks the DISTANCE between two points — 'X is far / near from Y'. 我家离学校很远。 = My home is very far from school. 学校离这儿不远。 = The school isn't far from here. Pattern: A + 离 + B + Adj/distance. Adjectives like 远 (far) / 近 (near) come AFTER. Distance can also be quantified: 我家离学校三公里。 = My home is 3 km from school. Tense doesn't matter — 离 is stative. Trap: 离 does NOT mean 'leave (a place)' as a coverb. The verb 离开 = to leave, but the coverb 离 just marks distance. 我离开北京 = I leave Beijing (verb), but 我离北京很远 = I'm far from Beijing (coverb). Don't say 从北京远 for 'far from Beijing' — Mandarin uses 离 for distance, 从 for origin. They don't interchange.
向 / 朝 — facing / toward
向 xiàng and 朝 cháo both = 'toward / facing'. They mark direction. 向前走。 = Walk forward. 向左转。 = Turn left. 他向我笑。 = He smiled toward me. 朝 is similar but often more about physical orientation: 门朝南。 = The door faces south. 朝着海。 = Facing the sea. Both can introduce a destination of motion or attention. Subtle differences: 向 can be more abstract / metaphorical (向你学习 = learn from you / be like you), while 朝 is more physical (朝那边走 = walk that way). They overlap heavily; in casual speech, choose by feel. Compare with 对 — 对我笑 vs. 向我笑: 对 is target-of-attitude, 向 is direction-of-motion. 对你笑 = smile AT you (focused on you); 向你笑 = smile TOWARD you (the smile travels in your direction). Subtle, often interchangeable.
由于 / 为了 / 关于 — because / for / about
Three discourse-level prepositions. 由于 yóuyú = 'due to / because of'. Often introduces a reason. 由于天气不好,飞机晚了。 = Due to bad weather, the plane was late. Slightly formal — written and announcement-like. The colloquial alternative is 因为 (lesson 18). 为了 wèile = 'for the sake of / in order to'. Introduces a purpose. 为了学好中文,我每天都练习。 = In order to learn Chinese well, I practice every day. 为了我们的未来。 = For the sake of our future. Distinguish from 为 (formal 'for') — 为了 introduces purposes / reasons; 为 introduces beneficiaries. 关于 guānyú = 'about / regarding (a topic)'. Sits before the topic noun, often at the start of the sentence. 关于这件事,我们要谈一谈。 = About this matter, we need to talk. 关于中国的书。 = Books about China. 关于 is the cleanest 'about a topic' marker; 对 can also introduce a topic but with more 'attitude toward' flavor.
