について

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

A very common particle-like expression placed after a noun to mark the topic or subject matter of speaking, thinking, writing, research, questions, and similar actions.

この問もん題だいについて話はなし合あいましょう。
Let's discuss this problem.
彼かれの発はつ言げんについて質しつ問もんがあります。
I have a question about his statement.

expression

per; for every

usually written using kana alone

Used after a counted unit to express a rate, fee, allowance, or allocation. This use is more limited and somewhat formal; につき or ごとに is often the more common everyday wording.

使し用よう一いっ回かいについて百ひゃく円えんの手て数すう料りょうがかかります。
A fee of 100 yen is charged per use.
参さん加か者しゃ一人ひとりについて資し料りょうを一いち部ぶ配くばります。
One set of materials will be distributed for each participant.

Grammar

についてabout; regardingN3

Kanji

就concerning, settle, take position

Related words

に関かんして sense 1
について and に関して both mean 'about/regarding', but に関して sounds slightly more formal and is often used in written or business contexts.
につき sense 2
について can mean 'per' in formal contexts, but につき is the more natural and common choice for rates like 一人につき.
をめぐって
について is a neutral topic marker meaning 'about', while を巡って specifically signals debate, conflict, or controversy surrounding the topic.
に対たいして
について means 'about/concerning' in a neutral, general sense, while に対して more strongly marks a target of an action, attitude, or contrast.
に関かんし
について is a general-purpose, less formal way to say 'about', usable in both speech and writing, unlike the formal written に関し.

Don't confuse with

に対たいして
について marks the topic being discussed, while に対して indicates direction, target, or contrast, so they are not interchangeable despite both following a noun with に.
にあたっては
について is a neutral, general 'about/concerning' that works for any topic, while にあたっては is more formal and specifically ties the statement to an action or occasion.

Etymology

A particle-like expression written almost always in kana in modern Japanese. The rare kanji spelling に就いて reflects a conventional kanji association with つく/ついて, but it should be learned primarily as the fixed expression について.