Comparing "guanyu" and "duiyu"

关于 (guānyú) and 对于 (duìyú) seem similar, since both of these prepositions are used to point to specific people or things. However, when taking a closer look, the things they discuss and the angles they take are different.

Different Points of Emphasis

Examples with 对于

对于 points to an object being specifically referred to, and usually the speaker has adopted a certain attitude or has come to some kind of conclusion about the person or object.

• 对于 那 个 人 我 并 不 了解。Duìyú nàge rén wǒ bìng bù liǎojiě.As for that person, I just don't know him very well at all.
• 对于 我们 的 工作 表现，老板 很 满意。Duìyú wǒmen de gōngzuò biǎoxiàn, lǎobǎn hěn mǎnyì.The boss is very satisfied with our work performance.
• 对于 这 件 事情 他 没什么 看法。Duìyú zhè jiàn shìqing tā méi shénme kànfǎ.He doesn't really have any opinion about this matter.

Examples with 关于

关于 names a topic, and often emphasizes a range, then introduces a comment related to it.

• 他 昨天 发表 了 一个 关于 中国 经济 的 演讲。Tā zuótiān fābiǎo le yī gè guānyú Zhōngguó jīngjì de yǎnjiǎng.Yesterday he made a speech about the Chinese economy.
• 我 需要 写 一 篇 关于 中美 文化 差异 的 文章。Wǒ xūyào xiě yī piān guānyú Zhōng-Měi wénhuà chāyì de wénzhāng.I need to write an article about the differences between Chinese and American culture.
• 关于 你 辞职 的 申请，公司 还 在 考虑。Guānyú nǐ cízhí de shēnqǐng, gōngsī hái zài kǎolǜ.With regards to your application for resignation, the company is still considering it.
• 关于 孩子 的 教育，她 跟 丈夫 的 看法 很 不 一样。Guānyú háizi de jiàoyù, tā gēn zhàngfū de kànfǎ hěn bù yīyàng.On children's education, her opinion is very different from her husband's.

Using 关于 in a Formal Way

关于 (guānyú) can also be used in the title of an article.

Examples

• 关于 部门 调整 和 人事 安排 Guānyú Bùmén Tiáozhěng hé Rénshì Ānpái"Regarding Department Adjustments and Human Affairs"
• 关于 新年 放假 的通知 Guānyú Xīnnián Fàngjià de TōngzhīA Notification Regarding New Year Holidays

Situations Where 关于 and 对于 Are Interchangeable

When the point emphasized is pretty clear (whether it be a range or a specific thing), then you can use either.

• 关于 这 份 决议 ，大家 还 有 什么 补充 吗 ？Guānyú zhè fèn juéyì, dàjiā hái yǒu shénme bǔchōng ma?Is there anything that anyone wants to add to this decision?
• 对于 这个 问题 ，你们 还 有 什么 意见 ？Duìyú zhège wèntí, nǐmen hái yǒu shénme yìjiàn?As for this issue, what other thoughts do you all have?

Example Dialog

• A: 我们 今天 的 会议 内容 是 讨论 一下 关于 开发 中国 市场 的 问题。A: Wǒmen jīntiān de huìyì nèiróng shì tǎolùn yīxià guānyú kāifā Zhōngguó shìchǎng de wèntí.The content of today's meeting is a discussion about the problems in developing China's markets.
• B: 我 的 意见 是 对于 中国 市场 我们 还 不 了解，最好 再 等等。B: Wǒ de yìjiàn shì duìyú Zhōngguó shìchǎng wǒmen hái bù liǎojiě, zuìhǎo zài děng děng.My opinion towards the Chinese markets is that we still don't understand. The best thing is to wait a bit longer.
• A: 对于 是 不 是 开发 中国 市场 我们 已经 决定 了，现在 的 问题 是 什么 时候 开发。A: Duìyú shì bù shì kāifā Zhōngguó shìchǎng wǒmen yǐjīng juédìng le, xiànzài de wèntí shì shénme shíhòu kāifā.We've already decided about developing the markets, the issue now is when to start.
• B：那么，关于 这 个 议题，我 没有 什么 可 说 的 了。B: Nàme, guānyú zhège yìtí, wǒ méiyǒu shénme kě shuō de le.Then, as for this topic, I have nothing more to say.

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 20) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (pp. 202) [ →buy]
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 61) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 501, 346) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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