Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 2: 13/24

を巡(めぐ)って

Concerning, In regard to, About, (Split) over

Structure

Noun + をめぐって(1)
Noun + をめぐる + Noun

(1) をめぐり

Details

  • Register

    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About を巡って

One of the more indirect ways that 'to be concerning (A)' is conveyed in Japanese is through the pairing of a noun with the case marking particle を and the う-Verb 巡(めぐ)る 'to go around' in either its て-form, or standard form when paired with a second noun.
This grammar point can be translated as 'concerning (A)', 'in regard to (A)', or 'about (A)'. However, following the most natural translation, we can see that 'to go around the topic of (A)', or 'encompassing (A)' are also acceptable.
  • 隣人(りんじん)と土地(とち)の境界線(きょうかいせん)を巡(めぐ)ってトラブルが起(お)きた時(とき)は誰(だれ)に連絡(れんらく)するべきですか？
    Who should I contact if I have a problem with my neighbor concerning my property line?
  • この島(しま)を巡(めぐ)る争(あらそ)いは私(わたし)が生(う)まれる前(まえ)から続(つづ)いています。
    The conflict concerning this island has been going on since before I was born.
  • ゴミ出(だ)しルールを巡(めぐ)ってのトラブルはどの地域(ちいき)でも珍(めずら)しいことではありません。
    No matter the community, conflicts concerning garbage disposal rules are not uncommon.
Caution - In addition to being quite formal, を巡(めぐ)って keeps the 'around the topic of (A)' nuance that comes from the stem verb. This means that rather than expressing one opinion, it takes into consideration many different viewpoints, and is frequently used when there is a disagreement or dispute about (A).
  • 数(かず)が限(かぎ)られている限定(げんてい)商品(しょうひん)を巡(めぐ)ってお客様(きゃくさま)同士(どうし)が言(い)い合(あ)いになってしまった。
    Customers argued with each other over a limited number of limited edition products.
  • 税金(ぜいきん)の使(つか)い方(かた)を巡(めぐ)る議論(ぎろん)から、内戦(ないせん)が始(はじ)まってしまった。
    A debate over the use of taxes has led to a civil war.
Because of this, it can sound quite unnatural to use を巡(めぐ)って if the topic of (A) is simply a personal opinion.

Examples

  • 今日(きょう)、国会(こっかい)では増税(ぞうぜい)するべきかそのまま据(す)え置(お)きするべきかをめぐって激論(げきろん)が生(しょう)じた。

    There was a heated debate today over whether the parliament should raise taxes or leave them as they are.

  • スイスに於(お)いて貿易(ぼうえき)協定(きょうてい)をめぐり米国(べいこく)とヨーロッパ連合(れんごう)の交渉(こうしょう)が始(はじ)まりました。

    The negotiations between the United States and the European Union in regard to a trade agreement began in Switzerland today.

  • 時代(じだい)とともに、海賊(かいぞく)王(おう)の宝(たから)が隠(かく)された場所(ばしょ)をめぐる様々(さまざま)な論争(ろんそう)が起(お)こった。

    As time passed, various disputes arose concerning the location of the hidden treasure of the pirate king.

  • 塩分(えんぶん)の過剰(かじょう)摂取(せっしゅ)を巡(めぐ)って意見(いけん)が分(わ)かれている。

    Opinions are divided over the excessive consumption of salt.

  • 誰(だれ)が担当(たんとう)するのか、人気(にんき)の楽器(がっき)を巡(めぐ)っての争(あらそ)いが毎年(まいとし)ある。

    Every year there is a contest to see who will be in charge in regards to the popular instrument.

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を巡って – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

  • Fabniam

    Fabniam

    I have some sentences with めぐって followed by の〇〇。

    For example:
    警備の仕方を巡っての見解の相違が問題になっている。

    I understand it that 巡って should modify 見解, but why is the て Form used here instead of the 連体形?

  • Asher

    Asher

    It is grammatically correct, just has a different nuance. The に particle in について implies that what comes before it is the whole topic of conversation, while を in をめぐって implies that the conversation revolves around it, but different ideas etc are being brought up.

  • Asher

    Asher

    Many て form structures can also be seen as ての. The difference is that 連体形 links it explicitly to the following noun, while ての focuses more on how it is acting in relation to what comes before it.

    For example -

    仕方を巡っての見解
    A method related opinion.

    仕方を巡る見解
    An opinion that relates to methods.

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