PMW Translation #28: 关于 or 对于?

🌀 Pearls of Mandarin Worksheet: Translation #28

Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟

In this week’s lesson, we’ve learnt about the nuance between 关于 and 对于.

Now, let’s dive in and see it in action with some detailed examples.

Let’s get started!

Today’s Exercises

Translate these English sentences into Mandarin:

1. This is a book about Chinese history.

2. She has strong opinions about this issue.

3. Regarding your recent achievements, we are all very proud.

Recap of CGG #29 lesson

• 关于

  • Think of it as drawing a big circle around a topic

  • Used for broad, general subjects

  • More neutral and objective

  • Can be used in various positions, including as a modifier with 的

• 对于

  • Imagine it pointing directly at a specific issue

  • Used for particular matters, often with a personal stance

  • Slightly more formal

  • Usually at the beginning of a sentence or after the subject

🌀 Translation #1

This is a book about Chinese history.

Here, we can use the following structure to translate the sentence:

📚 Structure: 关于 + [Topic] + 的 + [Noun]

This structure is used to describe something related to a specific topic.

This is a + [Noun]

To translate “this is a …” into Mandarin, we can simply say:

这是一 (zhè shì yī) + [Measure Word} + [Nominal Phrase].

The measure word depends on the noun. For “book,” the measure word is 本 (běn).

Nominal Phrase: 关于 + [Topic] + 的 + [Noun]

The topic “Chinese history” is 中国历史 (zhōngguó lìshǐ), where 中国 means “China” and 历史 means “history.”

The particle 的 is a modification particle linking the topic to the noun “book,” 书 (shū).

Recap

• 这是一本关于中国历史的书。

• 这 / 是 / 一 / 本 / 关于 / 中国 / 历史 / 的 / 书 / 。

• zhè shì yī běn guānyú zhōngguó lìshǐ de shū

• This is a book about Chinese history.

• This / is / a / (measure word 本) / about / China / history / (modification particle 的) / book.

Let’s practice the sentences with my audio recordings:

Slow speed:

Normal speed:

🌀 Translation #2

She has strong opinions about this issue.