Difference between revisions of "Expressing "about" with "guanyu""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
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关于 (guānyú) usually points to a range or scope, acting like the English word "about." It can be used in a few ways, often marking a topic of a statement, or modifying a noun.  
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关于 (guānyú) means "about." It can be used in a few ways, often marking a topic of a statement or modifying a noun.  
  
 
== Used for Topic-Marking ==
 
== Used for Topic-Marking ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>关于</em> 中国 历史,我 知道 的 不多。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> Zhōngguó lìshǐ, wǒ zhīdào de bù duō.</span><span class="trans">As for Chinese history, I don't know a lot.</span>
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*<em>关于</em> 中国 历史,我 知道 的 不 多。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> Zhōngguó lìshǐ, wǒ zhīdào de bù duō.</span><span class="trans">As for Chinese history, I don't know a lot.</span>
*<em>关于</em> 这 次 考试,我 还 有 几 个 问题 要 问。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> zhè cì kǎoshì, wǒ hái yǒu jǐ gè wèntí yào wèn.</span><span class="trans">As for this exam, I still have a lot of questions that I need to ask.</span>
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*<em>关于</em> 这 次 考试,我 还 有 几 个 问题 要 问。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> zhè cì kǎoshì, wǒ hái yǒu jǐ gè wèntí yào wèn.</span><span class="trans">As for this exam, I still have a few questions that I need to ask.</span>
*<em>关于</em> 这个 问题,你们 还是 问 他 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> zhège wèntí, nǐmen háishì wèn tā .</span><span class="trans">As for this problem, you'd better ask him.</span>
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*<em>关于</em> 这个 问题,你们 还是 问 他 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> zhège wèntí, nǐmen háishì wèn tā ba.</span><span class="trans">As for this question, you'd better ask him.</span>
*<em>关于</em> 你 的 建议,老板 还在 考虑 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> nǐ de jiànyì, lǎobǎn hái zài kǎolǜ.</span><span class="trans">As for your suggestion, the boss is still thinking it over.</span>
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*<em>关于</em> 你 的 建议,老板 还 在 考虑 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> nǐ de jiànyì, lǎobǎn hái zài kǎolǜ.</span><span class="trans">As for your suggestion, the boss is still thinking it over.</span>
*<em>关于</em> 调查 结果,我们 也 不 太 清楚 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> diàochá jiéguǒ, wǒmen yě bù tài qīngchu.</span><span class="trans">As for the result of that research, we don't know much either.</span>
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*<em>关于</em> 调查 结果,我们 也 不 太 清楚 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Guānyú</em> diàochá jiéguǒ, wǒmen yě bù tài qīngchu.</span><span class="trans">As for the result of that investigation, we don't know much either.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Used as Part of a Modifier ==
 
== Used as Part of a Modifier ==
  
As an attributive modifier, 关于 (guānyú) is placed before the noun phrase, and you should always add a 的.
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As an attributive modifier, 关于 (guānyú) is placed before the noun phrase (rather than after, as in English), and you should always add a 的.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*这 是 一 份 <em>关于</em> 中国 奢侈品 市场 报告 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì yī fèn <em>guānyú</em> Zhōngguó shēchǐ pǐn shìchǎng de bàogào.</span><span class="trans">This is a report about the Chinese luxury market.</span>
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*网上 有 很 多 <em>关于</em> 件 事情 的 评论 。<span class="pinyin">Wǎngshang yǒu hěn duō <em>guānyú</em> zhè jiàn shìqing de pínglùn.</span><span class="trans">There are lots of comments about this matter online.</span>
*汉语 有 很 多 <em>关于</em> 饮食 的 成语 。<span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ yǒu hěn duō <em>guānyú</em> yǐnshí de chéngyǔ.</span> <span class="trans">There are lots of idioms about diet in Chinese.</span>
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*他 写 过 很 多 <em>关于</em> 男女 平等 文章 。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiě guo hěn duō <em>guānyú</em> nánnǚ píngděng de wénzhāng.</span><span class="trans">He wrote many articles about gender equality.</span>
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*汉语 有 很 多 <em>关于</em> 饮食 的 成语 。<span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ yǒu hěn duō <em>guānyú</em> yǐnshí de chéngyǔ.</span> <span class="trans">There are lots of idioms about food in Chinese.</span>
 
*我 昨天 看 了 一 部 <em>关于</em> 动物 保护 的 纪录片 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān kàn le yī bù <em>guānyú</em> dòngwù bǎohù de jìlùpiàn.</span><span class="trans">I saw a documentary about animal protection yesterday.</span>
 
*我 昨天 看 了 一 部 <em>关于</em> 动物 保护 的 纪录片 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān kàn le yī bù <em>guānyú</em> dòngwù bǎohù de jìlùpiàn.</span><span class="trans">I saw a documentary about animal protection yesterday.</span>
*网上 有 很 多 <em>关于</em> 件 事情 的 评论 。<span class="pinyin">Wǎngshang you hěn duō <em>guānyú</em> zhè jiàn shìqing de pínglùn.</span><span class="trans">There are lots of comments about this matter online.</span>
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*这 是 一 份 <em>关于</em> 中国 奢侈品 市场 报告 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì yī fèn <em>guānyú</em> Zhōngguó shēchǐpǐn shìchǎng de bàogào.</span><span class="trans">This is a report about the Chinese luxury market.</span>
*他 写 过 很 多 <em>关于</em> 男女 平等 文章 。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiě guo hěn duō <em>guānyú</em> nánnǚ píngděng de wénzhāng.</span><span class="trans">He wrote many articles about gender equality.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Unspoken 关于 ==
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== The Unspoken "About" ==
  
The word "about" often follows verbs in English, such as "talk about" or "ask about." In Chinese however, this "about" meaning is built into the verb and no additional "about" word is needed, much as we don't say "discuss about" in English.
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The word "about" often follows verbs in English, such as "talk about" or "ask about." In Chinese, however, this "about" meaning is built into the verb and no additional "about" word is needed, much like we don't say "discuss about" in English.
  
 
A few examples:
 
A few examples:
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*我们 聊聊 你 的 新 工作 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liáoliao nǐ de xīn gōngzuò ba.</span><span class="trans">Let's talk about your new job.</span>
 
*我们 聊聊 你 的 新 工作 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liáoliao nǐ de xīn gōngzuò ba.</span><span class="trans">Let's talk about your new job.</span>
*今天 开会 要 说说 公司 下 个 月 的 培训 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān kāihuì yào shuōshuo gōngsī xià gè yuè de péixùn.</span><span class="trans">Today, we need to hold a meeting about next month's company training.</span>
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*今天 开会 要 说说 公司 下 个 月 的 培训 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān kāihuì yào shuōshuo gōngsī xià gè yuè de péixùn.</span><span class="trans">Today, we need to hold a meeting about the company training next month.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|154}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|关于|B1|关于 + Obj. ,⋯⋯|<em>关于</em> 中国 历史 ,我 知道 的 不 多 。|grammar point|ASG49889}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|关于|B1|关于 + Obj. ,⋯⋯|<em>关于</em> 中国 历史 ,我 知道 的 不 多 。|grammar point|ASG49889}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
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{{Similar|Comparing "guanyu" and "duiyu"}}
 
{{Similar|Comparing "guanyu" and "duiyu"}}
 
{{Similar|Comparing "duiyu" and "zhiyu"}}
 
{{Similar|Comparing "duiyu" and "zhiyu"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "related to..." with "you guan de"}}
 
{{POS|Prepositions}}
 
{{POS|Prepositions}}
 
{{Translation|about}}
 
{{Translation|about}}
 
{{Translation|as for}}
 
{{Translation|as for}}

Latest revision as of 08:30, 4 March 2019

Chinese-grammar-wiki-guanyu.jpg

关于 (guānyú) means "about." It can be used in a few ways, often marking a topic of a statement or modifying a noun.

Used for Topic-Marking

Structure

As an adverb/adverbial clause, it can only be placed at the beginning of the sentence.

关于 + Obj. ,⋯⋯

Examples

  • 关于 中国 历史,我 知道 的 不 多。Guānyú Zhōngguó lìshǐ, wǒ zhīdào de bù duō.As for Chinese history, I don't know a lot.
  • 关于 这 次 考试,我 还 有 几 个 问题 要 问。Guānyú zhè cì kǎoshì, wǒ hái yǒu jǐ gè wèntí yào wèn.As for this exam, I still have a few questions that I need to ask.
  • 关于 这个 问题,你们 还是 问 他 吧。Guānyú zhège wèntí, nǐmen háishì wèn tā ba.As for this question, you'd better ask him.
  • 关于 你 的 建议,老板 还 在 考虑 。Guānyú nǐ de jiànyì, lǎobǎn hái zài kǎolǜ.As for your suggestion, the boss is still thinking it over.
  • 关于 调查 结果,我们 也 不 太 清楚 。Guānyú diàochá jiéguǒ, wǒmen yě bù tài qīngchu.As for the result of that investigation, we don't know much either.

Used as Part of a Modifier

As an attributive modifier, 关于 (guānyú) is placed before the noun phrase (rather than after, as in English), and you should always add a 的.

Structure

关于 ⋯⋯ 的 + Noun

Examples

  • 网上 有 很 多 关于 这 件 事情 的 评论 。Wǎngshang yǒu hěn duō guānyú zhè jiàn shìqing de pínglùn.There are lots of comments about this matter online.
  • 他 写 过 很 多 关于 男女 平等 的 文章 。Tā xiě guo hěn duō guānyú nánnǚ píngděng de wénzhāng.He wrote many articles about gender equality.
  • 汉语 有 很 多 关于 饮食 的 成语 。Hànyǔ yǒu hěn duō guānyú yǐnshí de chéngyǔ. There are lots of idioms about food in Chinese.
  • 我 昨天 看 了 一 部 关于 动物 保护 的 纪录片 。Wǒ zuótiān kàn le yī bù guānyú dòngwù bǎohù de jìlùpiàn.I saw a documentary about animal protection yesterday.
  • 这 是 一 份 关于 中国 奢侈品 市场 的 报告 。Zhè shì yī fèn guānyú Zhōngguó shēchǐpǐn shìchǎng de bàogào.This is a report about the Chinese luxury market.

The Unspoken "About"

The word "about" often follows verbs in English, such as "talk about" or "ask about." In Chinese, however, this "about" meaning is built into the verb and no additional "about" word is needed, much like we don't say "discuss about" in English.

A few examples:

  • 我们 聊聊 你 的 新 工作 吧 。Wǒmen liáoliao nǐ de xīn gōngzuò ba.Let's talk about your new job.
  • 今天 开会 要 说说 公司 下 个 月 的 培训 。Jīntiān kāihuì yào shuōshuo gōngsī xià gè yuè de péixùn.Today, we need to hold a meeting about the company training next month.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books