What does 〜ni taishite mean and how do you use it?

「彼の意見に対して」「兄に対して弟は」 — aimed at a target, or set against a contrast. This lesson explains the meaning, connection rules, example sentences and common mistakes.

Does this JLPT N3 grammar lesson include practice questions?

Yes. It includes JLPT-style practice questions with detailed English explanations, so you can self-study for JLPT N3 for free.

“〜ni taishite”: Toward / In Contrast To / In Response To [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「彼の意見に対して」「兄に対して弟は」 — aimed at a target, or set against a contrast.

「子供に対して優しい」 — object, contrast, response: 「に対して」's three uses

「彼女は子供に対してとても優しい」 (she's very kind toward children) — 「noun ＋に対して」 has three main uses: ① object “toward ~, to ~” (the object of an action, attitude, emotion); ② contrast “as opposed to ~” (juxtaposing two); ③ response “in response to ~” (dealing with something). This guide covers 「に対して」's three uses and attachment, and separates it from topic-marking 「について (about)」 and standpoint 「にとって (for ~)」.

Core: facing an object, contrasting with something, responding to something

「に対して」 has three main uses:

① Object ‘toward, to' — the object an action, attitude, or emotion is aimed at: 子供に対して優しい (kind toward children), 質問に対して答える (answer a question).
② Contrast ‘as opposed to' — juxtaposing two things: 兄は静かなのに対して、弟は活発だ (the older brother is quiet, as opposed to the younger, who's lively).
③ Response ‘in response to' — dealing with, responding to something: クレームに対して、丁寧に対応する (respond politely to a complaint).

Feel: “toward (object) / as opposed to (contrast) / in response to (response)” — the core is always “facing an object.”

How to Connect

Use	Form	Example
object (toward)	noun ＋に対して	質問に対して
contrast (as opposed to)	〜のに対して	兄は静かなのに対して
modifying a noun	noun ＋に対する＋ noun	質問に対する答え

See it in context

彼の親切な行動に対して、彼女はとても感謝している。(She's very grateful for his kind act.) — object (emotion)
目上の人に対しては、敬語を使う。(Use keigo toward superiors.) — object (attitude)
都会の生活が便利なのに対して、田舎はのんびりしている。(City life is convenient, as opposed to the countryside, which is laid-back.) — contrast
お客様のご要望に対して、迅速に対応します。(We respond promptly to customers' requests.) — response
この質問に対して、はっきり答えてください。(Please answer this question clearly.) — object

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「に対して」 (direction/object of an action/attitude) vs 「について」 (the topic discussed). に対して = do an action, hold an attitude toward an ‘object' (aimed at whom/what) (先生に対して失礼だ = rude toward the teacher — the rude act aimed at the teacher); について = talk/write/think about a ‘topic' (what the content is about) (先生について話す = talk about the teacher — the teacher is the topic). Chinese may say “toward the teacher …” for both, but に対して is “object/direction,” について is “topic/content” — don't confuse them.

② 「に対して」 (object of an action) vs 「にとって」 (evaluating standpoint). に対して = do an action/hold an attitude toward an object (toward whom) (親に対して感謝する = be grateful toward parents — the action aimed at parents); にとって = evaluate from someone's standpoint (for ~) (親にとって子供は宝だ = for parents, a child is a treasure — evaluating from the parents' standpoint). に対して is “do … toward (an object),” にとって is “for (whom) …” — don't mix them.

③ The contrast use needs 「〜のに対して」. For “as opposed to, in contrast,” what precedes usually takes 「〜の」 (noun ＋なの／verb plain form ＋の): 兄は文系なのに対して、弟は理系だ (the older brother is humanities, as opposed to the younger, who's sciences), 去年は雨が多かったのに対して、今年は少ない (last year had lots of rain, as opposed to this year, which is dry). When juxtaposing two, remember 「〜のに対して」.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: に対して／について／にとって／において

Form	Feel	Example
〜に対して	toward (object)/as opposed to (contrast)/in response to (response)	子供に対して優しい
〜について	about (the topic, content discussed)	文化について話す
〜にとって	for ~ (an evaluating standpoint)	私にとって大切
〜において	at/in ~ (place/time/domain, the written で)	会議において決定

💡 Learning tip

「に対して」 has three main uses, all at their core “facing an object”: ① object ‘toward, to' (the object an action/attitude/emotion is aimed at: 子供に対して優しい = kind toward children, 質問に対して答える = answer a question); ② contrast ‘as opposed to' (juxtaposing two: 兄は静かなのに対して弟は活発 = the older is quiet, as opposed to the lively younger); ③ response ‘in response to' (dealing with something: クレームに対して対応 = respond to a complaint). The key is separating the similar に-set: に対して = toward (the object/direction of an action/attitude), について = about (topic/content), にとって = for ~ (an evaluating standpoint) — Chinese may say “toward …” for all, but Japanese keeps them distinct. To modify a noun, use 「に対する」 (質問に対する答え). To say “do … toward / hold an attitude toward an object,” に対して is spot-on.

❓ FAQ

Q: How do I tell 「に対して」 from 「について」? (both may be ‘toward/about')

By “the ‘object/direction' of an action/attitude” vs “the ‘topic/content' discussed.” 「に対して」 = do an action/hold an attitude toward an ‘object' (the action, emotion, attitude ‘aimed at' whom/what): お客様に対して、失礼な態度を取ってはいけない (you mustn't be rude toward customers — attitude aimed at customers), 彼の発言に対して、多くの批判が集まった (much criticism gathered in response to his remark — criticism aimed at his remark), 目上に対して敬語を使う (use keigo toward superiors — action aimed at superiors). It marks “an action/attitude ‘toward' whom, aimed at what.” 「について」 = talk/think/write about a ‘topic' (what the content ‘is about'): お客様について、データを分析する (analyze data about customers — the topic is customers), 彼の発言について、詳しく説明する (explain his remark in detail — the content discussed), 日本文化について学ぶ (learn about Japanese culture). It marks “what the ‘topic' of talk/writing/thought is.” So: “do an action/hold an attitude toward an object (direction)” → に対して; “talk/write/think about a topic (content)” → について. For the same 「彼の発言」: 「発言に対して反対する」 = oppose the remark (attitude aimed at the remark); 「発言について説明する」 = explain about the remark (the remark is the topic). One is “object/direction,” the other “topic/content.”

Q: How do I tell 「に対して」 from 「にとって」? (both may be ‘toward/for')

By “do an action/hold an attitude toward an object” vs “evaluate from a standpoint.” 「に対して」 = do an action, hold an attitude toward an object (the action, attitude ‘aimed at' an object, the subject is the doer): 親に対して、感謝の気持ちを伝える (express gratitude toward parents — action aimed at parents), 社員に対して、厳しく指導する (guide employees strictly — action aimed at employees), その意見に対して、私は反対だ (I oppose that opinion — attitude aimed at the opinion). It's “(someone) does …/holds an attitude toward (an object).” 「にとって」 = evaluate from someone/something's ‘standpoint, angle,' its importance/evaluation for them (the subject is the thing evaluated): 親にとって、子供は何より大切だ (for parents, a child matters most — the child's importance from the parents' standpoint), 外国人にとって、敬語は難しい (for foreigners, keigo is hard — keigo's difficulty from the foreigner's standpoint), 私にとって、これは大きなチャンスだ (for me, this is a great chance — evaluated from my standpoint). It's “for (someone), (something) is ….” So: “do an action/hold an attitude toward an object (aimed at)” → に対して; “for ~ (evaluate from a standpoint)” → にとって. E.g., 「子供に対して優しい」 = kind toward children (the kind attitude aimed at children); 「子供にとって親は必要だ」 = for children, parents are necessary (evaluated from the child's standpoint). One is “do … toward (an object),” the other “for (whom) ….” (について・にとって each have their own guide.)