What do you think about this issue? (about/regarding ~)

This pattern is attached to a noun to specify the topic or subject of a following action or description. It translates to "about," "regarding," or "concerning."

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: It pinpoints what a verb like "to talk," "to think," "to research," or "to explain" is about.

When to use: It's often used in more formal or structured contexts like presentations, reports, academic writing, and official announcements. In daily conversation, ~에 대해 is more common than the slightly more formal ~에 대하여. The form ~에 대해서 is also frequently used in spoken Korean.

Conjugation Rules

Rule: Simply attach ~에 대하여, ~에 대해, or ~에 대해서 directly after a noun, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Noun + 에 대하여 / Noun + 에 대해

While ~에 대해 is useful, it's important to know when a simpler expression is more natural.

Overusing in Simple Questions

Context: In casual chats, especially when asking simple "what" or "how" questions, using ~에 대해 can sound a bit clunky. Natives often use more direct phrasing.

Example: Instead of "점심 메뉴에 대해 뭐 먹고 싶어?" (What do you want to eat regarding the lunch menu?), it's much more natural to say "점심 뭐 먹고 싶어?" (What do you want to eat for lunch?).

~에 대해 vs. Topic Marker ~은/는

Context: ~에 대해 specifies the content of an action (e.g., research about X). 은/는 sets the general topic of the entire sentence. They are not always interchangeable. 그 영화에 대해 이야기했어요 means "We talked about that movie." 그 영화는 재미있었어요 means "As for that movie, it was fun."

Do: 그 주제에 대해 발표했어요. (O) / Don't: 점심에 대해 뭐 먹을까? (X) → 점심 뭐 먹을까? (O)

~에 대해 naturally pairs with verbs related to communication, thought, and investigation, specifying the subject of the action.

Communication & Explanation

이야기하다 (to talk about): For general conversations. (e.g., 캠페인에 대해 이야기할 거예요)

설명하다 (to explain): For providing details. (e.g., 캠페인에 대하여 간단히 설명할게요)

논의하다 (to discuss): For more formal or in-depth discussions. (e.g., 자세한 역할에 대해서는... 다시 논의해요)

말하다 (to say/tell): For sharing information. (e.g., 모델들에 대해 말해줄게)

Thought & Research

생각하다 (to think about): For expressing opinions. (e.g., 이 아이디어에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?)

알아보다 (to look into/research): For gathering information. (e.g., 내가 알아본 모델들에 대해...)

정리하다 (to organize/summarize): For compiling information. (e.g., A사 제품에 대해 정리해 봤어)

~에 대해 이야기하다 / ~에 대해 설명하다 / ~에 대해 생각하다

When someone asks for your opinion or presents information using ~에 대해, you can respond in several ways to keep the conversation going.

Giving Your Opinion

When asked [Topic]에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요? (What do you think about [Topic]?), you can state your opinion directly.

Response: 아주 좋은 것 같아요. 저도 적극적으로 참여하고 싶어요. (I think it's excellent. I want to participate actively too.)

Asking for More Details

If someone introduces a broad topic, you can ask for more specific information to understand better.

Response: 구체적으로 어떤 활동을 하게 되나요? (What specific activities will we be doing?)

Inquiring About a Specific Aspect

To steer the conversation towards a particular point of interest, use ~에 대해서는 어때요?

Response: 그럼 비용에 대해서는 어때? (Then what about the cost?)

아주 좋은 것 같아요 / 구체적으로 어떤 활동을 하게 되나요? / 비용에 대해서는 어때?

The nuance of this expression can change slightly depending on the ending you choose and the context.

Formal & Written: ~에 대하여

Context: This form is the most formal and is typically found in written texts, academic papers, news articles, and formal presentations. Using it in casual conversation can sound stiff or overly academic.

Example: 다음은 한국 경제의 미래에 대하여 토론하겠습니다. (Next, we will have a discussion about the future of the Korean economy.)

Standard Polite & Casual: ~에 대해 / ~에 대해서

Context: ~에 대해 is the most versatile form, suitable for both polite spoken and written Korean. ~에 대해서 is very common in everyday conversation and feels slightly softer and more conversational than ~에 대해. You can use these with friends, colleagues, and in most daily interactions.

Formal: 그 사건에 대하여 보고합니다. / Polite: 그 문제에 대해 이야기해요. / Casual: 어제 본 영화에 대해서 어떻게 생각해?