What Is the Difference Between について and に関して? Understanding Topic Scope and Formality

When studying Japanese, you often encounter expressions that seem almost interchangeable.

Two common examples are:

について (ni tsuite / about; regarding)

and

に関して (ni kanshite / regarding; concerning)

Compare the following sentences:

日本の教育制度について調べています。
Nihon no kyōiku seido ni tsuite shirabete imasu.
I am researching the Japanese education system.

日本の教育制度に関して調べています。
Nihon no kyōiku seido ni kanshite shirabete imasu.
I am researching matters related to the Japanese education system.

Both sentences are grammatically correct. Their meanings are also very similar.

This is exactly why JLPT learners sometimes hesitate when reading an article, a notice, or a multiple-choice question.

The key point is simple:

• について (ni tsuite) is neutral, natural, and widely used.
• に関して (ni kanshite) sounds more formal, objective, and official.

There can also be a subtle difference in the way the topic is viewed. However, formality is usually the most reliable clue.

Let us take a closer look.

What Does について Mean?

について (ni tsuite) introduces the topic of a conversation, explanation, study, question, or discussion.

The basic patterns are:

• Noun + について
• Noun + についての + noun

Here are some examples:

日本の歴史について勉強しています。
Nihon no rekishi ni tsuite benkyō shite imasu.
I am studying Japanese history.

将来の仕事について考えています。
Shōrai no shigoto ni tsuite kangaete imasu.
I am thinking about my future career.

環境問題についての本を読みました。
Kankyō mondai ni tsuite no hon o yomimashita.
I read a book about environmental issues.

In each sentence, について tells us what the main topic is.

It works naturally in everyday conversations, school assignments, presentations, and general written explanations.

What Does に関して Mean?

に関して (ni kanshite) also introduces a topic, but it has a more formal tone.

The basic patterns are:

• Noun + に関して
• Noun + に関する + noun

Examples:

奨学金制度に関して質問があります。
Shōgakukin seido ni kanshite shitsumon ga arimasu.
I have a question regarding the scholarship system.

個人情報の取り扱いに関するお知らせです。
Kojin jōhō no toriatsukai ni kansuru oshirase desu.
This is a notice concerning the handling of personal information.

今回の事故に関して、詳しい調査が行われています。
Konkai no jiko ni kanshite, kuwashii chōsa ga okonawarete imasu.
A detailed investigation is being conducted regarding this accident.

に関して often appears in:

• Official announcements
• Business emails
• News reports
• Rules and regulations
• Formal inquiries
• Reports and investigations

It sounds more objective and administrative than について.

The Main Difference Is Formality

The clearest difference between について and に関して is not the dictionary meaning. It is the level of formality.

について Is Neutral and Flexible

について is suitable for both conversation and writing.

週末の旅行について相談しましょう。
Shūmatsu no ryokō ni tsuite sōdan shimashō.
Let us talk about our weekend trip.

好きな映画について話してください。
Sukina eiga ni tsuite hanashite kudasai.
Please talk about your favorite movie.

日本文化についてレポートを書きます。
Nihon bunka ni tsuite repōto o kakimasu.
I will write a report about Japanese culture.

These sentences sound natural and approachable.

に関して Sounds More Formal

に関して is often used when the speaker wants to sound professional, official, or objective.

契約内容に関して、ご不明な点があればお問い合わせください。
Keiyaku naiyō ni kanshite, gofumei na ten ga areba otoiawase kudasai.
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the contract details.

試験の日程に関する変更をお知らせします。
Shiken no nittei ni kansuru henkō o oshirase shimasu.
We would like to inform you of a change concerning the examination schedule.

この問題に関して、専門家の意見を聞きました。
Kono mondai ni kanshite, senmonka no iken o kikimashita.
We asked an expert for an opinion regarding this issue.

The meaning is not dramatically different from について.

However, the tone is more formal.

Is There a Difference in Topic Scope?

Sometimes, learners are told that について introduces a broad topic, while に関して focuses on a more specific related issue.

This can be a useful tendency to remember, but it is not an absolute grammar rule.

Compare the following examples:

日本のアニメについて話しましょう。
Nihon no anime ni tsuite hanashimashō.
Let us talk about Japanese anime.

This sentence introduces a broad topic. You could discuss history, popular series, art styles, international audiences, or personal preferences.

Now compare:

アニメ作品の著作権に関して、専門家が説明しました。
Anime sakuhin no chosakuken ni kanshite, senmonka ga setsumei shimashita.
An expert explained matters related to copyright in anime productions.

This sentence focuses on a specific issue connected to anime.

However, do not memorize the following rule:

Broad topic = always について
Narrow topic = always に関して

That would be too simple.

In many sentences, both expressions are possible. The most reliable clue is still the overall tone and context.

When Are Both Expressions Possible?

Compare these sentences:

新しい制度について説明します。
Atarashii seido ni tsuite setsumei shimasu.
I will explain the new system.

新しい制度に関して説明します。
Atarashii seido ni kanshite setsumei shimasu.
I will provide an explanation regarding the new system.

Both sentences are correct.

The first sounds neutral and easy to understand.

The second sounds slightly more formal, as if it might appear in a meeting, an official notice, or a business presentation.

Here is another pair:

この問題について調査しています。
Kono mondai ni tsuite chōsa shite imasu.
We are investigating this issue.

この問題に関して調査しています。
Kono mondai ni kanshite chōsa shite imasu.
We are conducting an investigation regarding this issue.

Again, both are acceptable.

The second sounds more natural in a news report or formal statement.

Pay Attention to the Noun-Modifying Forms

When a noun follows the expression, the form changes.

For について, use:

についての (ni tsuite no / about)

Examples:

日本文化についての本
Nihon bunka ni tsuite no hon
A book about Japanese culture

進学についての相談
Shingaku ni tsuite no sōdan
A consultation about further education

For に関して, use:

に関する (ni kansuru / concerning; related to)

Examples:

個人情報に関する規則
Kojin jōhō ni kansuru kisoku
Rules concerning personal information

試験に関するお知らせ
Shiken ni kansuru oshirase
A notice concerning the examination

事故に関する調査報告書
Jiko ni kansuru chōsa hōkokusho
An investigation report concerning the accident

に関する is especially common in formal documents, news reports, and official announcements.

Common Learner Mistakes

A common mistake is using に関して too often because it sounds more advanced.

Consider this sentence:

昨日のパーティーに関して、どう思った？
Kinō no pātī ni kanshite, dō omotta?
What did you think regarding yesterday’s party?

This is grammatically possible, but it sounds unnecessarily formal for a casual conversation.

A more natural sentence is:

昨日のパーティーについて、どう思った？
Kinō no pātī ni tsuite, dō omotta?
What did you think about yesterday’s party?

On the other hand, に関して works well in formal situations:

システム障害に関して、現在原因を調査しています。
Shisutemu shōgai ni kanshite, genzai gen'in o chōsa shite imasu.
We are currently investigating the cause of the system failure.

The goal is not to choose the expression that sounds more difficult.

The goal is to choose the expression that matches the situation.

Quick Practice

Choose the expression that sounds more natural in each context.

Question 1

明日の授業＿＿＿、何か質問がありますか。
Ashita no jugyō _____, nanika shitsumon ga arimasu ka.
Do you have any questions about tomorrow’s class?

Answer:

について

This is a natural classroom conversation, so the neutral expression works well.

Question 2

サービスの利用料金＿＿＿、重要なお知らせがあります。
Sābisu no riyō ryōkin _____, jūyō na oshirase ga arimasu.
We have an important announcement regarding the service fees.

Answer:

に関して

This sounds like an official notice, so the more formal expression is appropriate.

Question 3

日本の少子化＿＿＿、レポートを書いてください。
Nihon no shōshika _____, repōto o kaite kudasai.
Please write a report about Japan’s declining birthrate.

Answer:

について

This is a broad report topic, so について sounds natural.

Question 4

今回の事故＿＿＿、警察が詳しい調査を進めています。
Konkai no jiko _____, keisatsu ga kuwashii chōsa o susumete imasu.
The police are conducting a detailed investigation regarding this accident.

Answer:

に関して

The sentence has the tone of a news report or an official statement.

How to Choose in JLPT Reading Questions

When you see について or に関して in a JLPT passage, do not focus only on the English translation.

Instead, ask yourself:

• Is the passage casual or formal?
• Is it a conversation, an announcement, a report, or a news article?
• Are the surrounding words neutral or administrative?
• Is the writer introducing a broad topic or discussing a specific issue?
• Is the expression followed by a noun?

A useful summary is:

• Use について for a neutral and flexible way to say “about.”
• Use に関して when the tone is more formal or official.
• Use についての before a noun.
• Use に関する before a noun.

Remember: many sentences allow both expressions.

The skill you need is not just vocabulary knowledge. It is the ability to notice tone, context, and subtle differences.

Summary

について (ni tsuite) and に関して (ni kanshite) both introduce a topic.

However, they are not always identical in tone.

• について is neutral, natural, and widely used in conversation and writing.
• に関して sounds more formal, objective, and official.
• について often works well for broad topics.
• に関して often appears when discussing a specific issue, system, or related matter.
• Topic scope is only a tendency, not a strict rule.
• In JLPT reading questions, always look at the surrounding context.

Knowing the dictionary meaning is only the first step.

To improve your JLPT reading score, you also need to recognize why one expression feels more natural than another in a particular sentence.

RJT (Rapid Japanese Training) helps you build this skill one question at a time. By practicing with carefully designed multiple-choice questions, you can learn how to identify subtle differences without feeling overwhelmed.

Related grammar guide: JLPT Formal and Written Expressions

Train your JLPT reading instincts with RJT