对【duì】

对 + a noun names what an attitude, a feeling or an effect is directed at. The 对 phrase goes before the adjective or verb; the subject is the person who has the feeling, or the thing that has the effect.

对 aimed at a listener, as in 对他说 "say to him", is the basic 对 point. Here the noun after 对 is what the feeling is about.

Good for, bad for

When the subject is a thing or an activity, 对 names who or what it affects.

With 有 + a noun

A set of common phrases take 对 + noun + 有 + noun: 有兴趣 "be interested", 有帮助 "help", 有好处 "do good", 有意见 "object".

Word order

English puts the "about" or "with" phrase after the adjective. The 对 phrase comes before it.

• × 我很满意对这个房间 → 我对这个房间很满意
• × 喝水好对身体 → 喝水对身体好

不 goes after the 对 phrase, right before the adjective or verb.

In writing, 对于 can stand in for 对 in most of these sentences. 对…来说, "as far as … is concerned", is a separate pattern.