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.  
  
== Different Point of Emphasis==
+
== Different Points of Emphasis==
  
 
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.  
 
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.  
  
=== Examples ===
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=== Examples with 对于 ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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*<em>对于</em> 我们 的 工作 表现,老板 很 满意。<span class="trans">The boss is very satisfied with our performance.</span>
 
*<em>对于</em> 我们 的 工作 表现,老板 很 满意。<span class="trans">The boss is very satisfied with our performance.</span>
 
*<em>对于</em> 这 件 事情 他 没什么 看法。<span class="trans">He doesn't really have any opinion about this matter.</span>
 
*<em>对于</em> 这 件 事情 他 没什么 看法。<span class="trans">He doesn't really have any opinion about this matter.</span>
*<em>对于</em> 一些 付费 的 游戏,80后 和 90后 的 态度 很 不 一样。<span class="trans">  </span>
 
*<em>对于</em> 同性恋 合法化 的 问题,美国 人 有 不同 的 看法。<span class="trans">  </span>
 
  
 
</div>  
 
</div>  
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关于 emphasizes a range, and it introduces all things that are related to it.
 
关于 emphasizes a range, and it introduces all things that are related to it.
  
=== Examples ===
+
=== Examples with 关于 ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 昨天 发表 了 一个 <em>关于</em> 中国 经济 的 演讲。<span class="trans"> </span>
+
 
* 我 需要 写 一 篇 <em>关于</em> 中 美 文化 差异 的 文章。<span class="trans"> </span>
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* 他 昨天 发表 了 一个 <em>关于</em> 中国 经济 的 演讲。<span class="trans">He made a speech about Chinese economy yesterday. </span>
* <em>关于</em> 你 辞职 的 申请,公司 还 在 考虑。<span class="trans"> </span>
+
* 我 需要 写 一 篇 <em>关于</em> 中 美 文化 差异 的 文章。<span class="trans">I need to write an article about the difference between China and America.</span>
* <em>关于</em> 孩子 的 教育 问题,年轻 父母 跟 上 一 代 人 之间 看法 很 不 一样。<span class="trans"> </span>
+
* <em>关于</em> 你 辞职 的 申请,公司 还 在 考虑。<span class="trans">About your  resignation, the company is still considering.</span>
 +
* <em>关于</em> 孩子 的 教育,她 跟 丈夫 的 看法 很 不 一样。<span class="trans">About children's education, her opinion is very different from her husband's.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 05:10, 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.

Different Points of Emphasis

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.

Examples with 对于

  • 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.

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

Examples with 关于

  • 他 昨天 发表 了 一个 关于 中国 经济 的 演讲。He made a speech about Chinese economy yesterday.
  • 我 需要 写 一 篇 关于 中 美 文化 差异 的 文章。I need to write an article about the difference between China and America.
  • 关于 你 辞职 的 申请,公司 还 在 考虑。About your resignation, the company is still considering.
  • 关于 孩子 的 教育,她 跟 丈夫 的 看法 很 不 一样。About children's education, her opinion is very different from her husband's.

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.

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

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