对： 1. [Formal] to respond; to answer: 答，答话，回答：～答如流。无言以～。 2. Toward to朝着：～酒当歌。 3. in an opposite position; facing 处于相反方向的：～面。 4. And, with :跟，和：～他商量一下。 5. to meet; to oppose 互相，彼此相向地：～立。～流。～接。～称（chèn）。～峙。 6. for or as regards 说明事物的关系：～于。～这事有意见。 7. to counter with 看待，应付：～待。 8. check-up,examine 照着样检查：核～。校（jiào ）～。 9. to suit; to fit 投合，适合，使相合：～应（yìng ）。～劲。 10. correct 正确，正常，表肯定的答语：神色不～。 11. Double 双，成双的：配～。～偶。～仗（律诗、骈文等按照字音的平仄和字义做成对偶的语句）。 12. make something symmetrical平分，一半：～开。 13. to mix with; to dilute with搀和（多指液体）：～水。 14.a pair 量词，双：一～鹦鹉。

对 can be used in many phrase: 对不起 means sorry 对面 means opposite--- on the opposite side of the street is my house.街道对面是我家。 面对面 means face to face-- we sit face to face.我们面对面坐着。 绝对 absolute or absolutely --- I think the failure is absolute.我想这个失败是绝对的。 Trust is absolutely necessary.信任是绝对必要的 对抗 means confront ---the two nations should cease from confronting each other.两国应停止相互对抗. 对 can be used as prep I have feelings for you. 我对你有感觉。 in a football games,England vs China. 英格兰队 对 中国队。In this sentence, 对 means vs

〈名〉noun 1. 配偶 [spouse] 2. 对手,敌对者 [opponent] 3. 对策,一种反措施,用以反对、抑制或抵消另一种措施、办法或手段 [countermeasure]。如:对子(办法) 4. 对子,对偶的词句;又指对联 [antithetical couplet] 5. 姓 〈形〉adjective 1. 意见、判断或程序上正确 [right]。如:他拒绝这一建议很对;你说得对,先生;意见很对;数目不对;猜对了;对,就这么办 2. 相互;两人在一起 [together]。如:对谈;对饮;对掌(共同掌管);对理(共同审理);对食(共同进餐) 〈量〉quantifier 1. 用于按性别、左右、正反等配合的人和物 [couple;pair]。如:他们是天生的一对;一对杯子;一对柜子;一对伙伴 〈介〉preposition 1. 朝,向——用作虚词,表示动作的对象 [to]。如:对他的父亲谈及此事;对你的牙是凉了点;对耕作的危害;对财产的权利 2. 对待。用法大致同“对于” [toward]。如:对任何人不怀恶意 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(from Dr.eye译典通字典) my recommand: the basic meaning is common used in mandarine. you could start to learn from it. i think that's enough for daily communication. ^^

基本字义 [ basic meaning ] 1. 答，答话，回答 [to respond; to answer ]：～答如流。无言以～。 2. 朝着 [ Toward to ]：～酒当歌。 3. 处于相反方向的 [ in an opposite position; facing ]：～面。 4. 跟，和 [ And, with ]：～他商量一下。 5. 互相，彼此相向地 [ to meet; to oppose ]：～立。～流。～接。～称（chèn）。～峙。 6. 说明事物的关系 [ for or as regards ]：～于。～这事有意见。 7. 看待，应付 [ to counter with ]：～待。 8. 照着样检查 [ check-up,examine ]：核～。校（jiào ）～。 9. 投合，适合，使相合 [ to suit; to fit ]：～应（yìng ）。～劲。 10. 正确，正常，表肯定的答语 [ correct ]：神色不～。 11. 双，成双的 [ Double ]：配～。～偶。～仗（律诗、骈文等按照字音的平仄和字义做成对偶的语句）。 12. 平分，一半 [ make something symmetrical ]：～开。 13. 搀和（多指液体）[ to mix with; to dilute with ]：～水。 14. 量词，双 [ a pair ]：一～鹦鹉。 详细字义[ detail meaning ] 〈动〉verb 1. 同本义 [answer;reply] ： 无言以对;对当(对答;安排); 2. 两者相对;面对 [face;mutual;face to face]: 对峙(相对峙立);对酒(面对着酒。饮酒) 3. 相当;相配 [match] 4. 核对,比照着检查 [check;compare;identify] :对读(校对);对笔迹;对数字 5. 搀和 [mix;add]。如:这酒是对了水的 6. 对待,以特定方式待[人或物] [treat;deal with;cope with] ：他对我不错 7. 平分成两份 [divide into halves]。如:对股劈;对开;对分 8. 扬;显扬;指扬威 [spread;make known;display one's power] 以对于天下。——《诗·大雅·皇矣》 对扬以辟之。——《礼记·祭统》 9. 婚娶 [wed]。如:对亲;对值(男女订为婚姻) 10. 抵押 [mortgage] 11. 较量,为争夺优势或胜利而激烈斗争 [have a contest]。如:对仗(交战) 12. 拼,冒生命危险去做 [risk one's life]。如:对副(收拾;杀掉);对命(拼命;偿命) 13. 朝着 [subtend;betrained on;be directed at] :斜边对直角;弧对圆心角 14. 对人无愧,不辜负 [be worthy of;not letting down]。如:对得起,对得住;对不过(对不起);对不住(对不起。对人有愧)

My two cents on "dui bu qi" The complete form of "dui bu qi" is "dui ni bu qi", ni here means second person, you, which is omitted. "dui" here has a special usage: "dui" + n. n. that follows "dui" is the action receiver, so in this case, "ni" (you) is the action receiver. "bu"=no "qi"=up, a motion of rising. You can guess the meaning of "bu qi" is "no up", down. Then the whole "dui ni bu qi" means "my action let you down", hence, it means "I am sorry for my action which let you down" There is also a very interesting culture difference between the east and west regarding to how people express apology. In the east, people usually say something that can be literally translated to 'my action creates trouble for you'. The reason is that People from Asia treat the wrong doings, even unintentionally made, a burden, a debt that they own the parties suffer, a debt that must be repaid, at least in ancient times. However, in the west, people believe that mistakes and unintentional wrong doings unavoidable things in the process of learning. So in their apologies, there is no such focus on a sense of redemption.