についてabout; regarding
について marks what you talk, think, write or ask about. It is neutral: at home in conversation, emails, essays and notices.
with a verb
I'm finding out about Japanese culture.
before a noun
I am reading a book about Japanese festivals.
How to form it
Noun + について
A whole question goes in with か: どこに行くかについて話す, to talk about where to go.
Before a noun
Noun + についての + noun
旅行についての質問, a question about the trip.
Talking, asking, thinking, finding out
What follows is usually something you do with words or with your head: 話す, 聞く, 説明する, 考える, 調べる, 書く.
We discussed environmental issues in class.
I asked the person in charge about the new scholarship system.
Do you have any questions about today's class?
について goes with the whole question here. 今日の授業についての質問はありますか is also right.
I am thinking about next year's plan.
のこと: about, in conversation
こと is a noun, "things to do with", so a particle follows it: のことを話す, のことが心配だ, のことで相談する. Chatting about a person, people say it more often than について; about a thing, both are ordinary.
We were just talking about Tanaka.
There's something at work I'd like your advice about.
I'm worried about my grandmother, who lives on her own.
Not for saying what something is like
について doesn't introduce a description. What you describe just takes は.
Not said: 日本の
(About Japanese culture: it's interesting.)
日本の文化は面白いです.
Before a noun: についての
について goes with a verb: you talk or write about something. To say what a book, a question or a TV program is about, add の. English "a book about" has nothing to remind you.
I asked about the trip.
Goes with the verb, 質問する.
I have a question about the trip.
Describes the noun, 質問.
Not said: これは
(This is a book about Japanese history.)
日本の歴史についての本です.
については and the polite につきましては
With は it picks one matter out from the rest: "as for", "when it comes to". Websites and notices are full of it, and shops and companies stretch it to the extra-polite につきましては.
For details of the procedure, please see the website.
For changes to your reservation, please contact reception.
A notice or an email is often simply titled 営業時間の変更について, "Change to opening hours".
について, にとって or として?
All three follow a noun and are easy to mix up. The same noun, three ways:
The teacher talked about the international students.
What you talk, think, write or ask about.
For international students, keigo is one of the tougher challenges.
Whose point of view a judgment is made from. A judgment follows: hard, important, necessary.
She came to Japan as an international student.
The role or capacity someone or something acts in: she is a student herself.
Close neighbours
に対してN3
Who or what an attitude, a reply or an action is aimed at. Talking about a plan is について; being against it is に対して.
This teacher is strict with international students too.
ってN5
In conversation, the way to bring something up and say what you think of it.
Japanese culture is interesting, isn't it?
に関してN2
The same meaning in stiffer words, for documents, the news and formal emails. Before a noun it is に関する.
The personnel department published a report on the new working arrangements.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
将来の
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
これは
Choose an answer to see why.
3"The festival was fun."
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
ついてくる and ついていく, to follow someone, are a different word.
This way. Please follow me.
More sentences
The research team is looking into the local water quality.
I talked with my family about where to live after I graduate.
I watched a program about space development.
I cannot answer that question right now.
As for this proposal, we will put off deciding until next week.