に対して（にたいして）

に対して（にたいして） means toward; against; in contrast with. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to mark the target of an attitude/action or contrast two things.

This grammar point often appears in neutral to formal Japanese. If you want to mark the target of an attitude/action or contrast two things, に対して（にたいして） is a useful pattern to learn.

What does に対して（にたいして） mean?

Use に対して（にたいして） when you want to mark the target of an attitude/action or contrast two things.

Natural translations include:

• toward; against; in contrast with
• toward
• toward / against / in contrast with

The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer’s or speaker’s purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.

How to form に対して（にたいして）

Noun + に対して

Examples of the pattern:

• 質問に対して
• 親に対して
• 男性に対して女性は

When is に対して（にたいして） used?

Use に対して（にたいして） in situations like:

• attitudes toward people
• responses to questions or actions
• contrasting two groups or facts

Tone and register:

• neutral to formal
• Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

に対して（にたいして） example sentences

• 彼は誰に対しても親切です。 — He is kind toward everyone.
• 質問に対して、丁寧に答えた。 — I answered the question carefully.
• その意見に対して反対する人も多い。 — Many people oppose that opinion.
• 兄に対して、弟はとても静かだ。 — In contrast to the older brother, the younger brother is very quiet.
• お客様に対して失礼な態度を取ってはいけない。 — You must not behave rudely toward customers.

Nuance of に対して（にたいして）

The key nuance is direction toward a target, often more formal than に.

This matters because に対して（にたいして） does more than translate one English phrase. It shows how the speaker connects ideas, evaluates a situation, or frames the sentence for the listener.

For example:

• In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
• Compared with について, it has a different focus and level of formality.

に対して（にたいして） vs について

Both に対して（にたいして） and について can appear in related situations, but they are different.

に対して（にたいして）:

• means toward; against; in contrast with
• fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

について:

• について marks a topic; に対して marks a target, response, opposition, or contrast

Quick contrast examples:

• Target: 彼は誰に対しても親切です。 — He is kind toward everyone.
• Compare: Try replacing it with について and check whether the nuance still matches.

Common mistakes with に対して（にたいして）

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using it where a simple に is more natural
• Confusing topic について with target に対して
• Forgetting に対する before nouns

Is に対して（にたいして） on the JLPT?

Yes. に対して（にたいして） is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for に対して（にたいして）

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say someone is kind to everyone.
• Respond to a question using に対して.
• Contrast an older brother and younger brother.

Learning path for に対して（にたいして）

To learn に対して（にたいして） efficiently, review basic particles like について and に, then focus on the relationship each formal marker creates.

1. First, make sure you can form に対して（にたいして） without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with にとって, について. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write reading-style sentences about society, research, policy, opinions, and reports; then check whether replacing に対して（にたいして） with に関する / に関して changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• にとって — because it is another formal relation marker common in JLPT reading.
• について — because it is another formal relation marker common in JLPT reading.
• に関する / に関して — because it is another formal relation marker common in JLPT reading.
• において / における — because it is another formal relation marker common in JLPT reading.

Learn に対して（にたいして） with Hane

If you want to review に対して（にたいして） together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N3 grammar lessons