对 (duì) — (adjective) correct, right; (preposition) to, towards, for, regarding; (classifier) pair, couple

As a preposition meaning 'to/towards', 对 usually marks a relationship or attitude toward a person (对他好 = 'be good to him'); use 向 for physical direction. As a classifier, it counts people in pairs (couple/pair), like 双 for objects.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.