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Concerning; surrounding (a dispute/issue)
Definition
The grammar pattern '名詞＋をめぐって／名詞＋をめぐる＋名詞' is used to express a dispute, discussion, or competition among multiple people or groups surrounding a specific issue. It implies a 'circle' of conflicting opinions or interests around a central point. This pattern is often used in situations where there are strong disagreements or debates among individuals or groups. The nuance of this pattern lies in its ability to convey a sense of conflict or competition, which is not necessarily present in other similar patterns.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nominalizing verb form | 名詞＋をめぐる＋名詞 | 親の遺産をめぐる兄弟の間で激しい争いが起きてしまった。 |
| Nominalizing verb form | 名詞＋をめぐって | 新空港の建設をめぐって議論は、数十年経った今も決着していない。 |
| Stative verb form | 名詞＋をめぐって | その法案の是非をめぐって国会では深夜まで激しい討論が続いた。 |
Examples
親の遺産をめぐって、兄弟の間で激しい争いが起きてしまった。
oya no isan o meguru, kyōdai no aida de hatsui na aragai ga okite shimatta.
The dispute over the inheritance of the parents has led to a fierce argument among the siblings.
親の遺産 (parents' inheritance) をめぐって (surrounding the issue of) 兄弟の間で (among the siblings) 激しい争いが (fierce argument) 起きてしまった (has occurred)
新空港の建設をめぐって議論は、数十年経った今も決着していない。
shin kūkō no kenchiku o meguru, giwaku wa, jū ni nensei itta ima mo ketchaku de wa nai.
The debate over the construction of the new airport has continued without a resolution for decades.
新空港の建設 (construction of the new airport) をめぐって (surrounding the issue of) 議論は (debate) 数十年経った今も (for decades now) 決着していない (has not been resolved)
その法案の是非をめぐって国会では深夜まで激しい討論が続いた。
sono hōan no shihi o meguru, kokkai de wa, shin'ya made hatsui na tōron ga tsuzuite imashita.
The debate over the merits of the bill continued late into the night in the national assembly.
その法案の是非 (the merits of the bill) をめぐって (surrounding the issue of) 国会では (in the national assembly) 深夜まで (late into the night) 激しい討論が (fierce debate) 続いた (continued)
Context
This pattern is used to express a dispute or competition among multiple people or groups surrounding a specific issue. It is often used in formal or official contexts, such as in news articles or government reports. In terms of register, this pattern is formal and polite. It can be compared to the pattern '～について', which is used to express a discussion or debate about a specific topic, but does not necessarily imply conflict or competition.
Watch out
When expressing a single person's opinion, it is more appropriate to use the pattern '～について' rather than '～をめぐって'.
The pattern '～に関して' does not necessarily imply conflict or competition, whereas '～をめぐって' does. When expressing a dispute or competition, it is more appropriate to use '～をめぐって'.
The pattern '～をめぐって' is used to express a dispute or competition, not simple physical movement around an object. When describing physical movement, a different pattern such as '～を回る' or '～を取り巻く' should be used.
Strategy
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, be sure to use the correct form of the verb and to convey a sense of conflict or competition. Pay attention to the context and the relationships between the people or groups involved. This pattern is often used in formal or official contexts, so be sure to use formal and polite language.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N2 test-style questions. Each sentence shows 名詞＋をめぐって／名詞＋をめぐる＋名詞 used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
親の遺産をめぐって、兄弟の間で激しい争いが起きてしまった。
Pattern used: をめぐって
When there is a dispute (争い) among multiple parties (brothers) over something (inheritance), 'をめぐって' is the correct choice.
新空港の建設をめぐる議論は、数十年経った今も決着していない。
Pattern used: をめぐる
The noun-modifying form 'をめぐる' is used here to describe the 'discussions surrounding' the airport construction.
その法案の是非をめぐって、国会では深夜まで激しい討論が続いた。
Pattern used: をめぐって
Debates or discussions involving multiple sides (the Diet) over a central issue use 'をめぐって'.
Interactive
親の遺産______、兄弟の間で激しい争いが起きてしまった。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.