Posted inN2 Grammar

Unpacking 「をめぐって」: Navigating Discussions and Disputes in Japanese (JLPT N2 Grammar)

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To revolve around; concerning; over; regarding; with respect to (an issue, topic, or object)

🎯 Primary Function

It indicates that a discussion, dispute, conflict, event, or various activities are centered around a specific noun (issue, topic, object, person). It highlights the thing that is the focal point of the surrounding action or discussion.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + をめぐって / をめぐり / をめぐる + Noun (attributive form)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Very common in formal contexts, especially in news reports, academic discussions, political debates, and legal proceedings.

😊 Informal Situations

Rarely used in casual, everyday conversation. Sounds overly formal if used informally.

✍️ Written Language

Widely used in written language, such as newspapers, magazines, official reports, and academic papers.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in formal spoken contexts like public speeches, press conferences, debates, and formal presentations.

💡 Common Applications

News Reporting & Media
Frequently used to describe controversies, debates, or events reported in the news that revolve around a particular topic or decision.
Example: 新しい政策をめぐって、国会で激しい議論が行われた。(A heated debate took place in the Diet over the new policy.)
Disputes & Conflicts
Used to describe conflicts, arguments, or protests that are centered on a specific point of contention.
Example: 土地の所有権をめぐって、住民と開発業者の間で争いが続いている。(A dispute continues between residents and the developer over land ownership.)
Discussions & Debates
Indicates that discussions or meetings are focused on a particular subject or proposal.
Example: 次のプロジェクトの方向性をめぐって、チーム内で話し合いが持たれた。(A discussion was held within the team regarding the direction of the next project.)
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent in formal and written contexts; less common in daily informal speech.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N2
Example Sentences
そのスキャンダルをめぐって、様々な憶測が飛び交っている。
Various speculations are flying around concerning that scandal.
オリンピックの開催費用をめぐり、国民の間で賛否両論がある。
Regarding the cost of holding the Olympics, there are pros and cons among the public.
遺産をめぐる親族間の争いは、ついに法廷に持ち込まれた。
The dispute between relatives over the inheritance was finally brought to court.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Implies a central focus of activity.
「をめぐって」 strongly implies that a certain issue, object, or person is the central point around which discussions, events, or conflicts ‘circle’ or ‘revolve’. It’s not just ‘about’ something, but that something is the core of the matter.
Example: 新空港建設をめぐって、賛成派と反対派が対立した。(Proponents and opponents clashed over the construction of the new airport.)
Often involves multiple parties or diverse opinions.
Because it typically describes discussions or disputes, 「をめぐって」 often suggests that there are different viewpoints, parties, or actions revolving around the central issue.
Example: その人気俳優のプライベートをめぐって、ゴシップ誌の報道が過熱している。(Gossip magazines are intensifying their reports concerning the popular actor’s private life.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it for simple ‘about’ statements.
✅ Use 〜について or 〜に関して for general ‘about’ or ‘regarding’ statements where there’s no implied contention or extensive activity revolving around the topic.
「をめぐって」 carries a stronger nuance of something being a focal point of debate, conflict, or widespread attention, rather than just being the topic of a simple conversation.
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to formal. It’s suitable for formal reporting and discussion, but not for casual social interactions.
Social Situations: Primarily used in situations requiring a degree of formality or objectivity, such as news broadcasts, political discussions, legal contexts, and academic presentations. It adds gravitas to the topic.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations in its usage or meaning.

🔍 Subtle Differences

「をめぐって」 vs. 「〜について」
「をめぐって」 implies a dynamic situation like a discussion, conflict, or movement revolving around a central issue. 「〜について」 is a more general particle simply indicating ‘about’ or ‘concerning’ a topic, without necessarily implying debate or widespread focus.
When to use: Use 「をめぐって」 when the topic is a point of contention, debate, or intense focus for multiple parties. Use 「〜について」 for general topics of conversation or information.
「をめぐって」 vs. 「〜に関して」
「〜に関して」 is also formal and means ‘concerning’ or ‘with regard to’, similar to 「〜について」 but often slightly more formal and specific. 「をめぐって」 maintains its core meaning of ‘revolving around’ a central issue, often with implied conflict or diverse opinions.
When to use: Use 「をめぐって」 when emphasizing that something is the focal point of an ongoing process (debate, dispute). Use 「〜に関して」 for introducing a topic in a formal manner.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

「をめぐって」 is the te-form of the verb 巡る (めぐる), used adverbially. 「をめぐり」 is the conjunctive form (連用形) which also functions adverbially or connects clauses. 「をめぐる」 is the attributive form (連体形), which directly modifies a noun that follows it.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The ‘めぐって’ part has a slight emphasis on ‘ぐっ’. The pitch typically drops on ‘め’ and rises on ‘ぐ’, then drops again on ‘て’. Pay attention to the double consonant ‘っ’ (tsu) for a clear stop.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it like a group of people ‘circling around’ a specific topic or problem, often with different opinions or actions converging on that one point. Visualize a ‘merry-go-round’ of discussion or conflict.

Vocabulary List
憶測
okusoku
speculation, guess
飛び交う
tobikau
to fly about, to be exchanged (of words, etc.)
開催費用
kaisaīhiyō
holding costs, hosting expenses
賛否両論
sanpi ryōron
pros and cons, arguments for and against
国民
kokumin
nation, people
遺産
isan
inheritance, legacy
親族
relatives
Kanji List
巡
めぐ・る / ジュン
patrol, go around, revolve
憶
オク
recollection, guess, memory
測
ソク
fathom, conjecture, survey
飛
と・ぶ / ヒ
fly
交
まじ・わる / コウ
mingle, associate, exchange
開
ひら・く / カイ
open, unfold, unseal
催
サイ
sponsor, hold (a meeting)
費
つい・やす / ヒ
cost, expense
用
もち・いる / ヨウ
use, utilize
賛
サン
approve, praise
否
いな / ヒ
negate, deny
Practice Exercises
次の文の空欄に最も適切なものを選びなさい。 新しい法律＿＿＿、市民の間で活発な議論が行われている。
について
をめぐって
に対して
から
この作品の著作権＿＿＿、複数の出版社が争っている。
に関わらず
をめぐる
と比べ
によって
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