について
ni tsuite
In Japanese, the phrase for about (concerning) is について (ni tsuite).
The phrase について is used as a preposition to mean concerning. While it is used to specify what is being discussed, such as a person or a subject, it is distinct from other Japanese words that mean 'about' in the sense of 'approximately' or 'nearly', such as およそ, 約 or 大略.
Meaning: concerning (prep)
Which one should you use?
The primary difference is that に関する is a more formal version used frequently in professional or academic writing.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When について functions as an adjective to modify a noun directly, you must add the particle の to form についての. For example, if you want to say 'a story about music', you would use についての rather than just について before the noun.
How do you pronounce it?
ni tsuite
Did you know?
- The phrase について is actually a verb in disguise. It is the conjunctive form of the verb 就く (tsuku), which originally means 'to occupy a position' or 'to be attached to'.
- In Japanese, talking 'about' someone using について can sometimes sound like an interrogation or a formal report, depending on the context.
- The particle に in について acts as a target marker, effectively treating the topic of conversation as a destination for the speaker's thoughts.
Examples in context
- トムについて教えて。Tell me about Tom.This sentence shows how to use について when asking for information about someone.Tatoeba #2040892 by bunbuku, translation #1860565 by CK
- 音楽について話したよ。I talked about music.This sentence demonstrates the use of について when discussing a subject.Tatoeba #158200 by bunbuku, translation #256329 by CK
- それについて聞こうよ。Let's hear about it.This sentence shows how to use について when expressing the intent to hear or learn about something.Tatoeba #9086385 by Ninja, translation #5178400 by CK
- 私は日本の文化についての本を読みました。I read a book about Japanese culture.
- 会議は環境問題について話し合われました。The meeting was about environmental issues.
- 旅行のことを考えています。I'm thinking about traveling.
- 日本について勉強しています。I'm studying about Japan.
- 476 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are talking about their upcoming trip.
- 美咲 Misaki旅行について計画を立てよう。Ryokō ni tsuite keikaku o tateyō.Let's make a plan about the trip.
- 陽太 Yotaいい考えだね。どこに行きたい？Ii kangae dane. Doko ni ikitai?That's a good idea. Where do you want to go?
- 美咲 Misaki京都について調べてみたよ。Kyōto ni tsuite shirabete mita yo.I looked into things about Kyoto.
- 陽太 Yota最高だね。京都に行こう！Saikō dane. Kyōto ni ikō!That's great. Let's go to Kyoto!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries について, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
