Chinese Prepositions — 介词 在/从/往/对/跟/给/离/向/用

A preposition (介词 jiècí) combines with a noun or pronoun to form a prepositional phrase (介词短语) that acts as an adverbial before the verb. The basic order is 介词 + 名词/代词 + 动词: 在北京工作 (work in Beijing), 从中国来 (come from China), 用筷子吃饭 (eat with chopsticks).

Many Chinese prepositions are "coverbs" — words that originally were verbs and still often work as verbs. 给 can mean "give" as a verb (给我一本书) or "for/to" as a preposition (给我打电话). Context and position decide which role it plays.

The prepositional phrase almost always sits before the verb, not after. This is the single most important rule: English says "work in Beijing" (verb + place), but Chinese says 在北京工作 (place + verb).

在 marks where or when an action happens. For location: 在北京工作 (work in Beijing), 在家里休息 (rest at home), 在学校上课 (attend class at school). The 在 phrase goes before the verb.

For time: 在早上 (in the morning), 在下午 (in the afternoon), 在周末 (on the weekend), 在2026年 (in 2026). Time phrases with 在 are often optional and can be dropped when context is clear.

Compare with the existential 在: 书在桌子上 (the book is on the table) uses 在 as the main verb "to be at", while 在桌子上写字 (write on the table) uses 在 as a preposition. Same word, two roles.

从 marks the starting point in space or time: 从中国来 (come from China), 从学校出发 (depart from school), 从家里走 (leave home). 从 pairs naturally with 到 for "from ... to ...": 从家到学校 (from home to school), 从九点到五点 (from 9 to 5).

从 also marks a time starting point: 从明天开始 (starting from tomorrow), 从早上到晚上 (from morning to evening).

Do not confuse 在 (static location) with 到 (arrival destination). 我在家 means "I am at home" (already there); 我到家 means "I arrive home" (movement toward it). 从...到... covers the whole journey between two points.

往 indicates the direction of movement: 往右走 (walk to the right), 往左拐 (turn left), 往前走 (walk forward), 往南飞 (fly south). It always points a direction and combines with movement verbs such as 走/拐/飞/开.

向 is similar but slightly more formal, and it also marks the target of an attitude or action: 向前走 (walk forward), 向他学习 (learn from him), 向他问好 (send regards to him). 向 can express "toward" or "from" depending on the verb.

Both 往 and 向 come before the verb. 往右走 and 向右走 are close in meaning; 往 is more common in everyday directions, while 向 is preferred in formal or abstract contexts.

对 marks the person or thing an attitude or effect is directed at: 对我很好 (very good to me), 对学习有帮助 (helpful for study), 对这件事有意见 (have an opinion about this matter), 对身体不好 (bad for the body).

对 also appears in fixed patterns like 对...说 (say to...) and 对...感兴趣 (be interested in...). The 对 phrase expresses a relation or attitude, not physical direction.

Distinguish 对 from 给 and 向: 对我很好 (treats me well — attitude) vs 给我打电话 (calls me — recipient) vs 向我走来 (walks toward me — physical direction). Getting these three right is a common HSK 3–4 test point.

跟 means "with" for doing something together: 跟他说话 (talk with him), 跟朋友去 (go with a friend), 跟老师学习 (study with a teacher). 和 and 与 mean the same; 跟 and 和 are colloquial, 与 is more written and formal.

跟 also appears in the comparison pattern 跟...一样 (same as...): 我跟你一样高 (I am as tall as you), 这件跟那件一样贵 (this one is as expensive as that one).

Remember 跟 requires a companion — the action is done together or in relation to someone. 我跟他说话 = "I talk with him", not "I talk at him".

给 as a preposition marks the person who benefits from or receives the action: 给我打电话 (call me), 给妈妈买礼物 (buy a gift for mom), 给朋友写信 (write a letter to a friend), 给大家介绍 (introduce to everyone).

The 给 phrase most safely comes before the verb (给我打电话). It can also follow certain verbs (送给我一份礼物), but before the verb is the standard position.

给 is also a full verb meaning "give" (给我一本书 give me a book). As a preposition it is followed by another main verb; as a verb it is the main action itself. Context decides which.

离 expresses distance or separation: 离学校很近 (very close to school), 离这里远 (far from here), 离车站不远 (not far from the station). The pattern is 离 + 地点 + 远/近, always with a distance word.

用 marks the instrument or means: 用筷子吃饭 (eat with chopsticks), 用手机付钱 (pay with a phone), 用中文说 (say it in Chinese), 用铅笔写 (write with a pencil). The pattern is 用 + tool/means + action.

These two are straightforward but very high-frequency. 离 answers "how far", and 用 answers "with what / by what means".

A preposition must be followed by a noun or pronoun, not a full sentence. English "since I am busy" needs the conjunction 因为 in Chinese (因为我忙), not 在. Keep 在/从/往/对/跟/给/离/向/用 before noun phrases only.

Do not place the prepositional phrase after the verb. "I work in Beijing" is 在北京工作, not 工作在北京. The phrase goes before the verb.

Do not confuse 在 (static location) with 到 (arrival): 我在家 (I am at home) vs 我到家 (I arrive home). And 给 vs 对 vs 向: 给我打电话 (recipient) vs 对我很好 (attitude) vs 向我走来 (direction).

Do not omit the noun after the preposition. 给, 对, 跟, 和 all require an object — 给我打电话, not 给打电话. The preposition always has a partner noun or pronoun right after it.