How to tell them apart
をめぐって marks an issue surrounded by debate, dispute or differing opinions, as in 法案をめぐって議論する. について is neutral and simply marks the subject of talking, explaining or asking, as in 法案について説明する. Using をめぐって for a neutral topic is unnatural, and using について for a contested issue loses the nuance of conflict.
- をめぐって・めぐる Use をめぐって to describe an issue that people debate, dispute or view differently.
- について Use について to talk, ask or write about a topic in a neutral way.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| をめぐって・めぐる womegutte meguru | about or concerning something | N2 |
| について nitsuite | regarding; on the subject of | N3 |
をめぐって・めぐる womegutte meguru
about or concerning something
をめぐって expresses that discussion, disagreement, or conflict centers on a topic, often translated as concerning or over. It follows a noun, as in 計画をめぐって, and can also follow a question clause with か, as in どうするかをめぐって. The form をめぐって modifies a verb, while をめぐる modifies a following noun and を巡り is a formal written variant. It is formal and common in news and academic writing for serious public issues, so it sounds unnatural for trivial everyday arguments.
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先生たちはその問題をめぐって賛否が分かれた。
The teachers were divided on the issue.
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委員会はその計画をめぐって意見が分かれた。
The committee was split over the project.
について nitsuite
regarding; on the subject of
について marks the topic as regarding or on the subject of, used with verbs of speaking, thinking, learning, knowing, or discussing. It follows a noun directly, as in 日本について, and becomes についての before another noun and については when the topic is contrasted or emphasized. It is neutral and common in both speech and writing, but remember that the noun comes first with no extra particle like を or に in between.
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私はそれについてほとんど知らない。
I know little or nothing about it.
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私たちは外国について多くのことを学ばねばならない。
We must learn a lot about foreign countries.
をめぐって・めぐる and について are JLPT N3–N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.