JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜に関して” and “〜をめぐって”

Table of Contents

1. The difference between “〜に関かんして” and “〜をめぐって”
2. Aに関かんしてB
3. AをめぐってB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments

Q: What is the difference between “〜に関かんして” and “〜をめぐって”?

A: Both are somewhat formal expressions and have a similar meaning to “about ～”.
However, they differ in whether they imply conflict or disagreement.
Let’s take a closer look.

Aに関かんしてB (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
To do B about A

[Rule]　
[N] Noun + に関かんして

[Points]
・In many cases, it can be replaced with “〜について.”
・The “て” in “〜に関かんして” may be omitted, and it can appear as “〜に関かんし.”
・In more polite situations, the form “〜に関かんしまして” is also used.

[Commonly used with]
話はなす(talk), 聞きく(listen/ask), 考かんがえる(think), 書かく(write), 調しらべる(investigate), 知しる(know) etc.

[Examples]
犯人はんにんはそのときの出来事できごとに関かんして、何なにも話はなしていません。
The criminal is not talking about what happened at that time.

教授きょうじゅは、歴史れきしに関かんしてとても詳くわしいです。
The professor is very knowledgeable about history.

警察けいさつはこのあいだの事件じけんに関かんして、色々いろいろな人ひとを調しらべています。
The police are investigating various people regarding the recent incident.

This expression is more formal than “〜について” and is often used in business or other formal situations.

[Examples]
〇 今いま、この事件じけんに関かんして調しらべています。
We are currently investigating this incident.

〇 次つぎの会議かいぎに関かんして質問しつもんをしてもよろしいでしょうか。
May I ask a question regarding the next meeting?

Be careful when using it in casual situations, as it may sound unnatural.

× 宿題しゅくだいに関かんして質問しつもんしてもいい？　
〇 宿題しゅくだいについて質問しつもんしてもいい？
Can I ask a question about the homework?

AをめぐってB (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
A about which multiple people do B (in a situation involving conflict or debate)

[Rule]
[N] Noun + をめぐって

[Points]
・It may also appear in the form “〜をめぐり.”
・It is used when conflict, dispute, or debate arises around a certain topic.
・It presupposes multiple parties; it is generally not used when only one person is involved.
・The topic is often serious, and the expression is mainly used in formal settings such as business or news reports.

[Commonly used with]
議論ぎろんする(to debate), 争あらそう(to argue), 対立たいりつする(to conflict), 裁判さいばんする(to litigate) etc.

[Examples]　
マンションの建設けんせつをめぐって、住民じゅうみんと建設けんせつ会社がいしゃが対立たいりつをしています。
Residents and the construction company are in conflict over the construction of the apartment building.

今日きょうの会議かいぎでは来年らいねんの予算よさんをめぐって議論ぎろんが行おこなわれました。
In today’s meeting, there was a debate over next year’s budget.

彼かれらは会社かいしゃの権利けんりをめぐって争あらそっています。
They are disputing over the company’s rights.

This expression is mainly used in formal situations such as business or news contexts.
Unlike “〜に関かんして,” it implies that the topic is serious and that multiple parties are in conflict or opposition.

[Examples]
〇 この裁判さいばんでは消きえたお金かねをめぐって争あらそっています。　
In this trial, they are disputing over the missing money.

〇 親戚しんせきは土地とちの権利けんりをめぐって対立たいりつしています。
The relatives are in conflict over the land rights.

Be careful when using this expression in casual situations, as it may sound unnatural.

× 姉あねは明日あしたのデートをめぐって彼かれとけんかしているようです。
〇 姉あねは明日あしたのデートについて彼かれとけんかしているようです。
My sister seems to be fighting with her boyfriend about their date tomorrow.

Let’s Compare

Now, let’s explain the difference between these two in terms of the “target” they refer to.

“〜に関かんして” is an expression that simply indicates a theme or topic. In contrast, “〜をめぐって” is used when conflict or dispute arises around that theme. For this reason, the verbs used with each expression must match their respective meanings.

In addition, a situation of “conflict” involves multiple parties or positions. Therefore, “〜をめぐって” cannot be used when only one person is involved. On the other hand, “〜に関かんして” can be used even if there is only one person related to the topic.

[Examples]
次つぎの会議かいぎでは予算よさんに関かんして話はなすつもりです。
In the next meeting, we plan to talk about the budget.
⇒ I will talk about the topic of “the budget.” There is no conflict involved.

A社しゃと予算よさんをめぐって対立たいりつしています。
We are in conflict with Company A over the budget.
⇒ My company and Company A are in conflict over the budget.

Summary

[Aに関かんしてB]

• An expression that simply indicates a theme or topic.
• It does not include the meaning of conflict or dispute.
• It is mainly used for serious matters or in formal contexts.
• It can be used even if only one person is involved.

[AをめぐってB]

• Indicates that conflict or debate is occurring around a certain matter.
• It includes nuances such as dispute, opposition, or legal conflict.
• It tends to be used for serious topics.
• It presupposes multiple parties; it cannot be used when only one person is involved.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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