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Chinese Grammar: Regarding this matter with 对, 对于 and 关于
Regarding studying Chinese, what is the best way to learn it? If you want to ask someone for their opinion, a term you need to learn in Mandarin Chinese is “in regards to/ with”. In Chinese, there are three words you can use to say that: 对 / 对于/ 关于. May you have come across them before? All three have similar meanings of “concerning, regarding, as for”. As you can imagine, each word has its own context in which you can use it; let’s see which you can use when!
对 & 对于
In order to make it clear, we divided 对 / 对于 / 关于 into 2 pairs to compare their usages. First, let’s look into 对 vs. 对于; then we’ll compare 对于 vs. 关于
Where 对 & 对于 are the same
As prepositions, 对 & 对于 both have the same meaning of “regarding (something) and “as far as” and emphasize the Object they are pointing to. The two words are interchangeable: in fact 对, in this case, is the shortened version of 对于 so you can usually substitute 对 for 对于 in any given situation where their function is a preposition.
Structure
Examples
对/对于我 来说 都 一样。
As far as I'm concerned, it's all the same.对/对于这 件 事 你 怎么 看？
Regarding this matter what’s your opinion?
Where 对 and 对于 differ
First, it’s good to note that 对 is little more oral than 对于 and is more common in spoken Chinese. 对于 is more used in writing.
There are certain situations in which only 对 can be used, and 对于 cannot be. It is therefore important to keep in mind that: Where you can use 对于, you can use 对; but you can’t always use 对于 where you use 对.
That’s because, aside from meaning “regarding”, 对 has several other meanings.
对 ＋ a verb can express direction: face; towards someone.
When expressing “to treat” with 对 as a verb:
对 is the most flexible: it can be placed before the subject, after the subject or after the adverb. In contrast, 对于 cannot be used everywhere like so. In fact, if in the middle of a sentence, 对于 must be placed after an adverb.
We know now that 对 and 对于 are, for the most case, interchangeable, except when they are not. Now, let’s see what 对于 and 关于 are all about.
对于 & 关于
对于 & 关于 , if they both mean “concerning”, “regarding”, place emphasis on two different aspects in the sentence.
对于 emphasizes objects
对于 emphasizes the object referred to. To emphasize a person or a thing that has a particular situation or a certain attitude, you’ll want to use 对于, for instance.
Structure
对于 + thing/person
Examples
关于 emphasizes the range
On the other hand, when, in relation to an object, you’re looking to emphasize a range, use 关于. It points to a range or scope of things or people, in relation with the object 关于 is referring to.
Structure
_关于 + related thing/involved object, Subject + sentence
Examples
关于这 件 事，我 没什么 看法。
I don't have an opinion concerning this matter.
In the beginning of a sentence, 关于 must always be placed before the subject.
我关于中草药 知道 的 很 少 is incorrect.
关于中草药 我 知道 的 很 少 is ok.
I don’t know much about Chinese herbal medicine.
关于 can be used to modify a noun
You can also use to modify a noun. Simply place 关于 after the verb, add the object you’re referring to in relation with the noun, and tack a 的 after it, like so:
Structure
有关于这 次 会议 的 报告 吗？
Do you have the report concerning this meeting? (do you have this meeting’s report?)
关于 can be used as a title.
Among 对于 对 关于, 关于 is the only one you can use on its own in a title or an article: it would then be translated as “ on” or “about”.
Example
Note: 对于 can also be used in a title, but not on its own. As you saw, 对于 must always be followed by a noun or a noun-phrase.
When 关于 对于 are interchangeable
In some instances, 关于and 对于 are interchangeable: this can only happen when you are referring to a precise thing or person. Both 对于 & 关于 can indifferently be used when the target being emphasized is clear and clearly defined.
You’ll often find both can be used in sentences that start with “regarding this question” or “regarding this topic”. The target is clear, so in those instances, you have the option of using either 对于 or 关于.
Examples
关于/对于**这 件 事，我 没什么 看法。
I don't have an opinion concerning this matter.
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Don’t worry little dragon! Even the Chinese sometimes end up misusing these three words, so pay attention to each word’s specificities and get plenty of practice to use them purrfectly!