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关于 (guān yú) — (preposition) about, concerning, regarding

Definition

A written/formal preposition meaning 'about / regarding' that introduces a topic, often placed before the topic at the start of a sentence. For everyday speech 'about a topic', use 有关 or rephrase with 对于; 至于 switches to a new topic ('as for…').

preposition
aboutconcerningregarding

Examples

  • 关于，。
    guān yú Zhè ge wèn tí, wǒ men xià cì zài tán.
    Regarding this issue, we'll talk about it next time.
  • 关于。
    Wǒ yǒu hěn duō guān yú zhōng guó de shū.
    I have many books about China.
  • 关于，。
    guān yú Tā de shì qing, wǒ bú tài qīng chǔ.
    As for his matters, I'm not too clear.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

关guānto involve
于yútopic marker

关 means 'to involve', and 于 points to what is involved.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 關; 关 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méndoor
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢇅
𢇅𢇅關guān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 关, the traditional form 關 shows 門 as a door and 𢇅 as two wooden sticks locking it, with ring-like marks on top.

Open 关 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →

Grammar

Appears in
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