JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

に対（たい）して (ni taishite)

～に対して — toward ～ / in contrast to ～

In short · Has two main uses. It marks the person or thing an action or feeling is directed at (“toward, to”), and it contrasts two things (“whereas, in contrast to”). It follows nouns, and for contrast it can follow a clause with の.

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Pattern

名詞＋に対して＋動詞 noun + に対して: the target of an action or attitude
普通形＋のに対して plain form + のに対して: contrasting two things

Showing the target

As in 先生に対して or 客に対して, it marks the person toward whom an attitude, feeling, question or opinion is directed. Often plain に would do, but に対して makes the direction clearer. It also marks a response to an action, as in 質問に対して答える.

Showing contrast

As in 兄が静かなのに対して、弟はよくしゃべる, it sets two opposite qualities side by side. The two halves are a matched pair and usually have different subjects. For a noun, use A に対して B; for a clause, add の to the plain form to get のに対して.

Examples

先生（せんせい）に対（たい）して、失礼（しつれい）な態度（たいど）を取（と）った。

Sensei ni taishite, shitsurei na taido o totta.

He took a rude attitude toward the teacher.

Target use: the attitude is aimed at the teacher.
店員（てんいん）は客（きゃく）に対（たい）して、いつも笑顔（えがお）で接（せっ）する。

Tenin wa kyaku ni taishite, itsumo egao de sessuru.

The clerk always deals with customers with a smile.

Target use again.
兄（あに）が静（しず）かなのに対（たい）して、弟（おとうと）はよくしゃべる。

Ani ga shizuka na no ni taishite, otōto wa yoku shaberu.

In contrast to the quiet older brother, the younger one talks a lot.

Contrast use: na-adjective + な + の + に対して.

Common mistakes

For contrast, use のに対して after a clause; do not drop the clause form.
The contrast use states facts side by side. Check which use you mean before adding requests such as 〜ください.

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