The characteristics of selective oxidation prior to hot-dip galvanizing with the annealing atmosphere dew point and chemical composition in dual-phase steels and their effect on the inhibition layer formation relevant to coating adhesion have been studied using a combination of electron microscopic and surface analytical techniques. The annealed and also galvanized samples of 3 kinds of Si/Mn ratios with varied amounts of Si addition were prepared by galvanizing simulator. The dew point was controlled at soaking temperature $800^{circ}C$ in 15%$H_2$ -85%$N_2$ atmosphere. It was shown that good adhesion factors were mainly uniformity of oxide particle distribution of low number density and low Si/Mn ratio prior to hot-dip galvanizing. Their effect was the greatly reduced coating bare spots and the formation of uniform inhibition layer leading to good adhesion of Zn overlay. The mechanism of good adhesion is suggested by two processes: the formation of inhibition layer on the oxide free surface uncovered with no $SiO_2$-containing particles in particular, and the inhibition layer bridging of oxide particles. The growth of inhibition layer was enhanced markedly by the delayed reaction of Fe and Al with the increase of Si/Mn ratio.