How to say "about" in Japanese
When "about" means "on the topic of," Japanese uses 〜について (ni tsuite) after the topic. When it means "approximately," use 約 (yaku) or くらい (kurai).
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Ways to say "about" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 〜について〜について · ni tsuite | About a topic. The most common way. |
| 〜に関して〜にかんして · ni kanshite | About; regarding. More formal, common at work. |
| 約やく · yaku | About; approximately (with numbers). Formal. |
| 〜くらい〜くらい · kurai | About; around (with numbers). Everyday speech. |
How to use it
The word order is the opposite of English. "About the project" is プロジェクトについて: the topic comes first, then について.
For numbers, 約 goes before the number and くらい goes after it: 約十分 (yaku juppun) and 十分くらい (juppun kurai) both mean about ten minutes.
Example sentences
- 来週の会議について話しましょう。Raishū no kaigi ni tsuite hanashimashō.Let's talk about next week's meeting.
- この件に関して質問があります。Kono ken ni kanshite shitsumon ga arimasu.I have a question about this matter.
- 駅まで歩いて十分くらいです。Eki made aruite juppun kurai desu.It's about a ten-minute walk to the station.
- 参加者は約五十人です。Sankasha wa yaku gojūnin desu.There are about fifty participants.
- 日本の文化について調べています。Nihon no bunka ni tsuite shirabete imasu.I'm researching Japanese culture.
- あなたの国について教えてください。Anata no kuni ni tsuite oshiete kudasai.Please tell me about your country.
Questions
How do you say "What is it about?" in Japanese?
Ask 何についてですか (nani ni tsuite desu ka). For a meeting or phone call, 何の件ですか (nan no ken desu ka) is also common.
What is the difference between 約 and くらい?
Both mean about with numbers. 約 (yaku) comes before the number and sounds formal. くらい (kurai) comes after the number and is used in conversation.
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