Level 4 · Upper Intermediate
About vs regarding: 关于 and 对于
关于 + Topic / 对于 + Person or Thing · Traditional: 關於 + Topic / 對於 + Person or Thing
关于 (guānyú) introduces a TOPIC — what a book, talk, or question is about: 一本关于中国历史的书 "a book about Chinese history". A 关于 phrase often opens the sentence: 关于这个问题，我们明天再说吧.
对于 (duìyú) points an attitude or reaction AT something: 对于这个问题，每个人的回答都不一样 "regarding this question, everyone's answer is different". Rule of thumb: content = 关于, stance = 对于. The everyday favorite 对于…来说 means "as far as … is concerned".
Examples
关于这个问题，我们明天再说吧。
關於這個問題，我們明天再說吧。
guān yú zhè ge wèn tí wǒ men míng tiān zài shuō ba
About this question — let's talk tomorrow.
我买了一本关于中国历史的书。
我買了一本關於中國歷史的書。
wǒ mǎi le yī běn guān yú zhōng guó lì shǐ de shū
I bought a book about Chinese history.
对于我来说，家人最重要。
對於我來說，家人最重要。
duì yú wǒ lái shuō jiā rén zuì zhòng yào
For me, family is the most important thing.
对于这个问题，每个人的回答都不一样。
對於這個問題，每個人的回答都不一樣。
duì yú zhè ge wèn tí měi ge rén de huí dá dōu bù yī yàng
Regarding this question, everyone answers differently.
Common mistakes
✗ 对于中国历史，我买了一本书。
✓ 我买了一本关于中国历史的书。
The topic of a book or talk takes 关于 — 对于 marks an attitude toward something.
Related grammar points
Practice this pattern in graded stories like In the Studio (Part 2), Finding Inspiration (Part 1) inside the Literate Chinese app.
