Posted inN1 Grammar

Navigating Conflicts and Discussions: Mastering 「～をめぐって」 (wo megutte)

Posted inN1 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Centering around, concerning, regarding, over (a dispute/issue)

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate the central topic, issue, or location that is the focus of discussion, conflict, or related events.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + をめぐって

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Highly common in news reports, official statements, academic papers, and formal discussions.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common; using it in casual conversation might sound unnatural or overly formal.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently used in newspapers, magazines, academic writing, and official documents.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in formal speeches, debates, press conferences, or serious discussions about public affairs.

💡 Common Applications

Reporting on disputes or conflicts
Used to describe disagreements, conflicts, or controversies that revolve around a specific issue or object.
Example: 土地の所有権**をめぐって**裁判が行われている。 (Tochi no shoyūken wo megutte saiban ga okonawarete iru. – A trial is being held over the ownership of the land.)
Discussing issues or topics of public interest
Used when reporting on or discussing topics that are the subject of public attention, debate, or various opinions.
Example: 新しい法案**をめぐって**国会で激しい議論が交わされた。 (Atarashii hōan wo megutte kokkai de hageshii giron ga kawasareta. – A fierce debate was exchanged in the Diet concerning the new bill.)
Describing events happening around a place
Less common than with abstract nouns, but can indicate events or actions occurring in relation to a specific location.
Example: この島**をめぐって**、歴史的な出来事が数多く起こった。 (Kono shima wo megutte, rekishiteki na dekigoto ga kazukazu okotta. – Numerous historical events occurred in connection with this island.)
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent in formal and written contexts, less so in daily conversation.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N1 (Advanced)
Example Sentences
資源開発**をめぐって**、複数の国が対立している。
Multiple countries are in conflict over resource development.
彼の突然の辞任**をめぐって**、様々な憶測が飛び交っている。
Various speculations are flying around concerning his sudden resignation.
オリンピック招致**をめぐる**賛否両論が報道されている。
Pros and cons regarding the Olympic bid are being reported.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Highlights the focal point
The noun preceding 「をめぐって」 is the central subject or issue that the surrounding actions (discussion, conflict, events) revolve around.
Example: 環境問題**をめぐって**、国際会議が開かれた。 (The international conference was held *centering around* environmental issues.)
Often implies intensity or disagreement
The pattern frequently appears in contexts involving debate, dispute, conflict, or significant public attention.
Example: 相続**をめぐって**親族間でトラブルが発生した。 (Trouble occurred among relatives *over* the inheritance.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using 「をめぐって」 interchangeably with 「について」 in all contexts.
✅ 「をめぐって」 implies a situation revolving *around* the topic, often with multiple viewpoints, conflict, or significant attention, whereas 「について」 is a neutral “about”.
While both can mean “about” or “concerning”, 「をめぐって」 carries a stronger nuance of the topic being the central point of activity or contention.
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to Formal.
Social Situations: Primarily used in formal settings, news, official reports, academic discussions, and political debates.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

～をめぐって vs. ～について
をめぐって emphasizes the noun as the focal point of surrounding action (discussion, conflict, events); について is a general “about”.
When to use: Use 「をめぐって」 when the topic is the center of attention, debate, or conflict. Use 「について」 for general discussions about a topic.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

This is a fixed grammatical pattern; the form 「めぐって」 does not change. 「めぐる」 is the dictionary form when modifying a following noun.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

「めぐって」 (megutte) is pronounced with a double consonant “tt”. The root is the verb 巡る (meguru).

🧠 Memory Tips

Visualize the noun as the center of a circle (巡る means to go around) with discussions, conflicts, or events happening along the circumference, revolving around that central point.

Practice Exercises
そのスキャンダル（）連日、報道が過熱している。
について
に関して
をめぐって
と一緒に
新しいビルの建設（）、住民の間で賛否両論がある。
をめぐって
のために
によると
と比べて
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