Difference between revisions of "Comparing "guanyu" and "duiyu""

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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.  
 
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.  
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关于 (guānyú) can also be used in the title of an article.
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==== Examples ====
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* <em>关于</em> 部门 调整 和 人事 安排 <span class="trans">"Regarding Department Adjustments and Human Affairs"</span>
 +
* <em>关于</em> 新年 放假 的通知 <span class="trans">A Notification regarding New Year vacations.</span>
 +
</div>
  
 
== The point of emphasis is different ==
 
== The point of emphasis is different ==
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* <em>关于</em>/<em>对于</em>这份决议,大家还有什么补充吗?<span class="trans">Is there anything that anyone wants to add to this decision?</span>
 
* <em>关于</em>/<em>对于</em>这份决议,大家还有什么补充吗?<span class="trans">Is there anything that anyone wants to add to this decision?</span>
 
*<em>关于</em>/<em>对于</em>这个问题,你们还有什么意见?<span class="trans">As for this problem, do you guys still have some thoughts?</span>
 
*<em>关于</em>/<em>对于</em>这个问题,你们还有什么意见?<span class="trans">As for this problem, do you guys still have some thoughts?</span>
</div>
 
 
== Adverbial Clauses ==
 
 
When 对于 and 关于 act as adverbial clauses (a group of related words that act like an adverb), they have somewhat different words orders. You can place 对于 before or after the subject, while 关于 can only be placed before the subject.
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
关于 + Noun <strong>,</strong> Subj. + Predicate
 
</div>
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Subj. + 对于 + Noun + Predicate
 
</div>
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
对于 + Noun <strong>,</strong> Subj. + Predicate
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Revision as of 04:58, 23 June 2017

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.

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 "Regarding Department Adjustments and Human Affairs"
  • 关于 新年 放假 的通知 A Notification regarding New Year vacations.

The point of emphasis is different

对于 looks towards the object referred to, and usually the person or object referred to has adopted a certain attitude or has come into some kind of situation.

Structure

对于 + Noun

Examples

  • 对于 那 个 人 我 并 不 了解。I just don't understand that person.
  • 对于 我们 的 工作 表现,老板 很 满意。The boss is very satisfied with our performance.
  • 对于 这 件 事情 他 没什么 看法。He doesn't really have any opinion about this matter.
  • 对于 一些 付费 的 游戏,80后 和 90后 的 态度 很 不 一样。
  • 对于 同性恋 合法化 的 问题,美国 人 有 不同 的 看法。

关于 emphasizes a range, and it introduces all things that are related to it.

Structure

关于 + Range, Related Things

Examples

  • 他 昨天 发表 了 一个 关于 中国 经济 的 演讲。
  • 我 需要 写 一 篇 关于 中 美 文化 差异 的 文章。
  • 关于 你 辞职 的 申请,公司 还 在 考虑。
  • 关于 孩子 的 教育 问题,年轻 的 父母 跟 上 一 代 人 之间 看法 很 不 一样。

Notice that in the second example, if you were just to say "老师说有很多毛病" without first pointing out what it's referring to 学习方法, it would cause some confusion.

Situations where they are the same

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

Examples

  • 关于/对于这份决议,大家还有什么补充吗?Is there anything that anyone wants to add to this decision?
  • 关于/对于这个问题,你们还有什么意见?As for this problem, do you guys still have some thoughts?

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries