Japatan
Formation
- N + をめぐって
- N + をめぐる + N
Explanation
Shows that various opinions, debates, conflicts, or disputes arise around a certain issue or thing. The verb that follows involves several people, such as 議論する, 意見が分かれる, 対立する, or 争う. It is common in news reports. Before a noun it becomes をめぐる.
Examples
新しい駅の場所をめぐって、住民の意見が分かれている。
Residents are divided over the location of the new station.
会議では、来年の予算をめぐって激しい議論が続いた。
At the meeting, there was a heated debate over next year's budget.
一つのおもちゃをめぐって、兄弟がけんかを始めた。
The brothers started fighting over a single toy.
ごみの処理をめぐる問題について、学生たちが話し合った。
The students discussed the problems surrounding waste disposal.
Notes
Unlike について, it is not used when one person simply explains, reads, or worries (×先生は明日の予定をめぐって説明した).
Mini quiz
1文化祭で何をするか（ ）、クラスの意見が対立した。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 をめぐって
"The class was divided over what to do for the school festival." The other three cannot show the issue at the center of a disagreement.
2会社の将来（ ）議論が、夜遅くまで続いた。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 1 をめぐる
"The debate over the company's future went on until late at night." Before a noun, use をめぐる; the particle is always を.
3「をめぐって」の使い方がいちばん正しい文はどれですか。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 4 新しいルールをめぐって、社員の間でさまざまな意見が出た。
"Various opinions came up among employees over the new rule." 1 to 3 describe one person explaining, reading, or worrying, so について is natural there.
