Grammar › Reference & Basis
に対して — “toward, in contrast to”
Marks who or what an action, attitude, or comparison is directed at
Noun + に対して marks the target that an action, feeling, or attitude is directed toward, or sets up a contrast between two things — “toward X…” or “in contrast to X, …”. It's more formal than に alone and often appears with attitudes, demands, or comparisons.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Noun + に対して | 彼の態度に対して怒っている — I'm angry at his attitude |
| Contrast use | Aに対して、Bは〜 — In contrast to A, B is … |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 先生の質問に対して、正直に答えた。 | せんせいのしつもんにたいして、しょうじきにこたえた。 senseinoshitsumonnitaishite、shoujikinikotaeta。 | I answered the teacher's question honestly. |
| 兄は活発なのに対して、弟はおとなしい。 | あにはかっぱつなのにたいして、おとうとはおとなしい。 anihakappatsunanonitaishite、otoutohaotonashii。 | While my older brother is lively, my younger brother is quiet. |
| お客様に対しては、いつも丁寧に接するべきだ。 | おきゃくさまにたいしては、いつもていねいにせっするべきだ。 okyakusamanitaishiteha、itsumoteineinisessurubekida。 | You should always treat customers politely. |
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Watch out
について is neutral topic-marking (“about X”), while に対して implies direction or contrast (“toward/against X”) — swapping them can make a sentence sound aimed at someone rather than simply discussing a topic.