“Regarding” in Chinese 1 – guānyú and duìyú

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, guānyú 關於关于 and duìyú 對於对于 are both prepositions that can be translated as “about” or “regarding” in English, but they are used slightly differently.

Structure

Guānyú + N or N Phrase

It names a topic and often emphasizes a range, then introduces a comment related to it.

關於guānyú這個zhège提案tíàn， 你nǐ有yǒu什麼shénme想法xiǎngfǎ嗎ma？ 关于guānyú这个zhège提案tíàn， 你nǐ有yǒu什么shénme想法xiǎngfǎ吗ma？
Regarding this proposal, what are your thoughts?

關於guānyú你的nǐde建議jiànyì， 我們wǒmen會huì考慮kǎolǜ後hòu再zài做zuò決定juédìng关于guānyú你的nǐde建议jiànyì， 我们wǒmen会huì考虑kǎolǜ后hòu再zài做zuò决定juédìng
Regarding your suggestion, we will consider it and then make a decision.

關於guānyú你的nǐde問題wèntí， 我們wǒmen會huì盡快jìnkuài給予gěiyǔ答覆dáfù关于guānyú你的nǐde问题wèntí， 我们wǒmen会huì尽快jǐnkuài给予gěiyǔ答覆dáfù
Regarding your question, we will provide a response as soon as possible.

這zhè本běn書shū是shì關於guānyú動物dòngwù行為xíngwéi研究yánjiū的de这zhè本běn书shū是shì关于guānyú动物dòngwù行为xíngwéi研究yánjiū的de
This book is about animal behavior research.

關於guānyú你nǐ這zhè次cì作弊zuòbì的de事shì， 你nǐ還有háiyǒu話huà要yào說shuō嗎ma？ 关于guānyú你nǐ这zhè次cì作弊zuòbì的de事shì， 你nǐ还有háiyǒu话huà要yào说shuō吗ma？
Regarding the matter of your cheating this time, do you have anything to say?

Duìyú + Object + V

It is used to express a more specific or subjective viewpoint or opinion about something, and it can also indicate a target or recipient.

對於duìyú他的tāde行為xíngwéi我wǒ感到gǎndào非常fēicháng失望shīwàng对于duìyú他的tāde行为xíngwéi我wǒ感到gǎndào非常fēicháng失望shīwàng
I am very disappointed with his behavior.

我wǒ對於duìyú這zhè件jiàn事shì沒méi什麼shénme好hǎo說shuō的de我wǒ对于duìyú这zhè件jiàn事shì没méi什么shénme好hǎo说shuō的de
I have nothing much to say about this matter.

他tā對於duìyú小孩xiǎohái很hěn有一套yǒuyìtào他tā对于duìyú小孩xiǎohái很hěn有一套yǒuyìtào
He has a way with children.

對於duìyú那個人nàgerén的de事shì我wǒ不bú太tài清楚qīngchǔ对于duìyú那个人nàgerén的de事shì我wǒ不bú太tài清楚qīngchu
I’m not quite sure about that person’s situation.

你nǐ覺得juéde對於duìyú這zhè件jiàn事shì我們wǒmen應該yīnggāi如何rúhé處理chùlǐ？ 你nǐ觉得juéde对于duìyú这zhè件jiàn事shì我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi如何rúhé处理chùlǐ？
How do you think we should handle this matter?

Interchangeable?

Yes, when the emphasized point is very clear, whether it’s a range or something specific, you can use either.

關於guānyú這zhè次cì的de失敗shībài， 我wǒ無話wúhuà可說kěshuō关于guānyú这zhè次cì的de失败shībài， 我wǒ无话wúhuà可说kěshuō (對於duìyú对于duìyú✅)
Regarding this failure, I have nothing to say.

對於duìyú那個人nàgerén的de事shì我wǒ不bú太tài清楚qīngchǔ对于duìyú那个人nàgerén的de事shì我wǒ不bú太tài清楚qīngchu (關於guānyú关于guānyú✅)
I’m not quite sure about that person’s situation.

我們wǒmen將jiāng安排ānpái一次yícì會議huìyì， 討論tǎolùn關於guānyú如何rúhé改進gǎijìn我們wǒmen的de客戶kèhù服務fúwù我们wǒmen将jiāng安排ānpái一次yícì会议huìyì， 讨论tǎolùn关于guānyú如何rúhé改进gǎijìn我们wǒmen的de客户kèhù服务fúwù (對於duìyú对于duìyú❌)
We will arrange a meeting to discuss how to improve our customer service.

這zhè份fèn報告bàogào是shì關於guānyú產品chǎnpǐn的de滿意度mǎnyìdù这zhè份fèn报告bàogào是shì关于guānyú产品chǎnpǐn的de满意度mǎnyìdù (對於duìyú对于duìyú❌)
This report is about product satisfaction.

他tā對於duìyú小孩xiǎohái很hěn有一套yǒuyìtào他tā对于duìyú小孩xiǎohái很hěn有一套yǒuyìtào (關於guānyú关于guānyú❌)
He has a way with children.