GRAMMAR DETAIL
について
Follows a noun to present the topic or subject being discussed, investigated, or considered.
Examples
環境問題について家族で話し合った。
Our family discussed environmental issues together.
Words used
歴史についての本を借りた。
I borrowed a book about history.
Words used
日本の祭りについてレポートを書きました。
I wrote a report about Japanese festivals.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
についてafter the noun naming the topic under consideration. - Basic usage:
環境問題について話し合うmakes environmental issues the topic of discussion.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Modifying a noun
- Add
のwhen modifying a following noun, as in歴史についての本. This differs in attachment from connecting to a predicate, as in歴史について調べる.
- Add
- Conversation partner and topic
- In
家族と環境問題について話す, the family is the conversation partner and environmental issues the content.とandについてcan both appear in the same description of a conversation.
- In