に対して (ni taishite) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Towards

The expression に対(たい)して (ni taishite) is translated in different ways such as in contrast with, against, but also means towards (someone, something), to, regarding (someone, something).

We'll see in this post the 2 main uses and also the different forms of the structure.

When using に対(たい)して

The expression に対(たい)して describes a person or object towards which the expressed action or feeling is directed.

It has mainly 2 uses:

1 describes the object 対(たい)象(しょう) towards which the expressed action or feeling is directed: to, towards.

2 describes the contrast 対(たい)比(ひ) between the two expressed elements and can be translated as: in contrast with, whereas.

に対(たい)して towards

The structure we follow when に対(たい)して expresses the person, the thing we are referring to mainly uses the noun:

Let's see a sentence that we will reformulate later with the variants に対(たい)するい and に対(たい)しての.

に対(たい)して in contrast to, whereas

対(たい) is a Kanji that we find in the term 反(はん)対(たい) meaning opposition, contrast, antagonism, and the expression に対(たい)して also takes on the meaning of contrary to, in contrast to.

• A is one way, whereas B is another

The structure in this case is more articulated:

• Example using the な adjective, 好(す)きな:

• Example wih the verb 読(よ)む:

に対(たい)する regarding, towards

This structure as we will see in the examples, に対(たい)する contains する which is a verb and can only be followed by a noun.

We therefore had to add a second noun 態(たい)度(ど) behaviour, attitude.

に対(たい)しての towards, to

The structure に対(たい)して followed by the particle の must be followed by a substantive.

Grammar Structure

Noun+に対(たい)して+の+Noun

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

お父(とう)さんは妹(いもうと)に対(たい)しての態(たい)度(ど)はとても厳(きび)しいです。

My father has a very strict attitude towards my sister.

に対(たい)しても even towards, even against

If we add the particle も, the expression becomes に対(たい)しても and has the meaning of also against, also towards or in a listing towards both A and B. 誰(だれ)に対(たい)しても means "towards everyone ".

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

私(わたし)の同(どう)僚(りょう)は仕(し)事(ごと)や何(なに)に対(たい)しても言(い)い訳(わけ)ばかりだ。

My colleagues always make excuses for work and everything.

に対(たい)しては towards

Adding the particle は we are emphasising the element preceding the expression.

Let's see the nuance between に対(たい)しても and に対(たい)しては through an excerpt from a popular Japanese Blog:

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

誰(だれ)に対(たい)しても同(おな)じ態(たい)度(ど)というけど、変(へん)な人(ひと)に対(たい)してはどこまで付(つ)き合(あ)えば良(よ)いの？

You say you have the same attitude towards everyone, but how far should we go with strange people?

We find twice the expression with a slight nuance:

• に対(たい)しても: in this case も refers and is joined to "A" 誰(だれ), specifically 誰(だれ)も everyone and combined with 対して becomes to everyone, towards everyone;
• に対(たい)しては: the particle は emphasises the noun "B" that precedes the expression and creates the contrast with "A": towards strange people

Other examples of に対(たい)して

Title of a post from a Japanese blog dealing with personal relationships:

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

相(あい)手(て)に対(たい)して9やって1やらないと損(そん)をする【理(り)由(ゆう)と対(たい)策(さく)３選(せん)】

If you do 9 and don't do 1 towards ｔhe counterparty, you will lose [reasons and 3 strategies]

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

彼(かれ)の曖(あい)昧(まい)な態(たい)度(ど)に対(たい)してイライラした。

I was irritated by his ambiguous attitude.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

先(せん)生(せい)の意(い)見(けん)に対(たい)して賛(さん)成(せい)しました。

I agreed with the teacher's opinion.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

あきらくんは女(じょ)性(せい)に対(たい)して優(やさ)しい。

Akira is kind to women.