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 Points 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.
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=== Examples with 对于 ===
  
=== Examples with 对于 ===
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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.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*<em>对于</em> 那 个 人 我 并 不 了解。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duìyú</em> nàge rén wǒ bìng bù liǎojiě.</span><span class="trans">As for that person, I just don't know him very well at all.</span>
 +
*<em>对于</em> 我们 的 工作 表现,老板 很 满意。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duìyú</em> wǒmen de gōngzuò biǎoxiàn, lǎobǎn hěn mǎnyì.</span><span class="trans">The boss is very satisfied with our work performance.</span>
 +
*<em>对于</em> 这 件 事情 他 没什么 看法。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duìyú</em> zhè jiàn shìqing tā méi shénme kànfǎ.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't really have any opinion about this matter.</span>
 +
</div>
  
*<em>对于</em> 那 个 人 我 并 不 了解。<span class="trans">I just don't understand that person.</span>
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=== Examples with 关于 ===
*<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>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
关于 emphasizes a range, and it introduces all things that are related to it.
 
  
=== Examples with 关于 ===
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关于 names a topic, and often emphasizes a ''range'', then introduces a comment related to it.
  
 
<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="pinyin">Tā zuótiān fābiǎo le yī gè <em>guānyú</em> Zhōngguó jīngjì de yǎnjiǎng.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday he made a speech about the Chinese economy.</span>
* 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>
+
* 我 需要 写 一 篇 <em>关于</em> 中美 文化 差异 的 文章。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xūyào xiě yī piān <em>guānyú</em> Zhōng-Měi wénhuà chāyì de wénzhāng.</span><span class="trans">I need to write an article about the differences between Chinese and American culture.</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>
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* <em>关于</em> 你 辞职 的 申请,公司 还 在 考虑。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> nǐ cízhí de shēnqǐng, gōngsī hái zài kǎolǜ.</span><span class="trans">With regards to your application for resignation, the company is still considering it.</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="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> háizi de jiàoyù, tā gēn zhàngfu de kànfǎ hěn bù yīyàng.</span><span class="trans">On children's education, her opinion is very different from her husband's.</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>
  
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.
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== Using 关于 in a Formal Way ==
 
 
== Using 关于 in a Formal way ==
 
  
 
关于 (guānyú) can also be used in the title of an article.  
 
关于 (guānyú) can also be used in the title of an article.  
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<div class="liju">
 
<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>
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* <em>关于</em> 部门 调整 和 人事 安排 <span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> Bùmén Tiáozhěng hé Rénshì Ānpái</span><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>
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* <em>关于</em> 新年 放假 的通知 <span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> Xīnnián Fàngjià de Tōngzhī</span><span class="trans">A Notification Regarding New Year Holidays</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Situations where they are the same ==
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== 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.  
 
When the point emphasized is pretty clear (whether it be a range or a specific thing), then you can use either.  
  
=== Examples ===
+
<div class="liju">
 +
* <em>关于</em> 这 份 决议 ,大家 还 有 什么 补充 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> zhè fèn juéyì, dàjiā hái yǒu shénme bǔchōng ma?</span><span class="trans">Is there anything that anyone wants to add to this decision?</span>
 +
*<em>对于</em> 这个 问题 ,你们 还 有 什么 意见 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Duìyú</em> zhège wèntí, nǐmen hái yǒu shénme yìjiàn?</span><span class="trans">As for this issue, what other thoughts do you all have?</span>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== Example Dialog ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* <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>
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* A: 我们 今天 的 会议 内容 是 讨论 一下 <em>关于</em> 开发 中国 市场 的 问题。<span class="pinyin">A: Wǒmen jīntiān de huìyì nèiróng shì tǎolùn yīxià <em>guānyú</em> kāifā Zhōngguó shìchǎng de wèntí.</span><span class="trans">The content of today's meeting is a discussion about the problems in developing China's markets.</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>
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* B: 我 的 意见 是 <em>对于</em> 中国 市场 我们 还 不 了解,最好 再 等等。<span class="pinyin">B: Wǒ de yìjiàn shì <em>duìyú</em> Zhōngguó shìchǎng wǒmen hái bù liǎojiě, zuìhǎo zài děng děng.</span><span class="trans">My opinion towards the Chinese markets is that we still don't understand. The best thing is to wait a bit longer.</span>
 +
* A: <em>对于</em> 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。<span class="pinyin">A: <em>Duìyú</em> shì bu shì kāifā Zhōngguó shìchǎng wǒmen yǐjīng juédìng le, xiànzài de wèntí shì shénme shíhou kāifā.</span><span class="trans">We've already decided about developing the markets, the issue now is when to start.</span>
 +
* B:那么,<em>关于</em> 这 个 议题,我 没有 什么 可 说 的 了。<span class="pinyin">B: Nàme, <em>guānyú</em> zhège yìtí, wǒ méiyǒu shénme kě shuō de le.</span><span class="trans">Then, as for this topic, I have nothing more to say.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Latest revision as of 02:44, 17 December 2020

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 zhàngfu 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 bu shì kāifā Zhōngguó shìchǎng wǒmen yǐjīng juédìng le, xiànzài de wèntí shì shénme shíhou 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

Dictionaries