Japanese grammar
What does ～をめぐる＋N mean? Japanese grammar N2
～をめぐる＋N means N revolving around… (a modifying-clause form).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N2 |
|---|---|
| Structure | N1 + をめぐる + N2 |
| Romaji | womeguru＋N |
| Meaning | N revolving around… (a modifying-clause form) |
Forming it
| Modifier | 事件 → 事件をめぐる議論 |
|---|
How to use it
The MODIFIER form of 「をめぐって」: comes before a noun referring to a debate, incident, or rumor.
- 「N1をめぐるN2」 = N2 revolving around N1: 「この事件をめぐる議論」「予算をめぐる対立」.
- N2 is almost always a noun referring to debate/conflict: 議論・対立・争い・うわさ・報道・裁判.
- An adverbial–modifier pair: 「をめぐって」 modifies the predicate, 「をめぐる」 modifies a noun. This is a common exam point.
Examples
この事件をめぐる報道が過熱している。
Media coverage surrounding this incident is heating up.
来年度の予算をめぐる議論が続いている。
Debate over next year’s budget continues.
Keep in mind
- A noun must follow.
- That noun must refer to debate/conflict/news.
Common mistakes
-
Wrongこれはこの事件をめぐって議論の記録だ。
This is a record of the debates surrounding this incident.
Correctこれはこの事件をめぐる議論の記録だ。
Before a following noun (here, "a record of debate"), 「をめぐる」 must be used, not 「をめぐって」.
-
Wrongこれが事件をめぐる私の意見だ。
This is my opinion about this incident.
Correctこれが事件についての私の意見だ。
For a neutral personal opinion, use 「についての」.
Exam tips
- 「をめぐる＋N」 = the modifier form; the following N is usually 議論・対立・報道.