关于 vs 对于 (about vs regarding)
Topic or target?
- Both ≈ "about / regarding" — but aim differently.
- pertaining to关于 = "about (a topic / scope)", often opens the sentence.
- regarding对于 = "towards / with regard to (a target)", marks what an attitude points at.
pertaining to关于 = the topic
- pertaining to关于这件matter事，I / me我not不too太clear清楚 = "about this matter, I'm not sure."
about关于this这(measure word)件matter事，I我not不clear清楚。
- pertaining to关于这件matter事，I / me我not不clear清楚 = "about this, I'm not clear."
Practice
About this matter, I'm not clear: ____ 这件事，我不清楚。
关于 = about (topic): 关于这件事.
regarding对于 = the target of an attitude
- regarding对于this这个question问题，I / me我to have / there is有way of looking at a thing看法 = "regarding this issue, I have views."
regarding对于this这(measure word)个issue问题，I我have有views看法。
- regarding对于this这个question问题，I / me我to have / there is有way of looking at a thing看法 = "on this issue, I have views."
Explore
Which word completes the sentence?
关于 frames a topic; 对于 aims at a target, often as 对于…来说.
Practice
Which marks the target an attitude / view points at?
对于 points an attitude at a target; 关于 names a topic / scope.
Practice
关于 often opens the sentence, naming the topic.
Yes — 关于…，… leads with the topic.
Recap
Key idea
- pertaining to关于 = about (the topic / scope): pertaining to关于这件matter事
- regarding对于 = towards / regarding (the target of an attitude): regarding对于this这个question问题
- pertaining to关于 often opens the sentence; regarding对于 points an attitude
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Comparing similar prepositions.