Grammar Info
N2 Lesson 2: 13/24

を巡(めぐ)って
concerning, in regard to, about, (split) over

Structure
Noun + めぐっ(1)
Noun + めぐる + Noun

(1) めぐ
Details
Register Formal
使用域 硬い
Information
One of the more indirect ways that ‘to be concerning (A)’ is conveyed in Japanese is through the pairing of a noun with the 格助詞(かくじょし) (case-marking particle) を and the う-Verb 巡(めぐ)る ‘to go around’ in either its て-form, or standard form when paired with a second noun.
This grammar point can be translated as ‘concerning (A)’, ‘in regard to (A)’, or ‘about (A)’. However, following the most natural translation, we can see that ‘to go around the topic of (A)’, or ‘encompassing (A)’ are also acceptable.
  • 隣人(りんじん)と土地(とち)の境界線(きょうかいせん)を巡(めぐ)ってトラブルが起(お)きた時(とき)は誰(だれ)に連絡(れんらく)するべきですか?
    Who should I contact if I have a problem with my neighbor concerning my property line?
  • この島(しま)を巡(めぐ)る争(あらそ)いは私(わたし)が生(う)まれる前(まえ)から続(つづ)いています。
    The conflict concerning this island has been going on since before I was born.
  • ゴミ出(だ)しルールを巡(めぐ)ってのトラブルはどの地域(ちいき)でも珍(めずら)しいことではありません。
    No matter the community, conflicts concerning garbage disposal rules are not uncommon.
Caution - In addition to being quite formal, を巡(めぐ)って keeps the ‘around the topic of (A)’ nuance that comes from the stem verb. This means that rather than expressing one opinion, it takes into consideration many different viewpoints, and is frequently used when there is a disagreement or dispute about (A).
  • 数(かず)が限(かぎ)られている限定(げんてい)商品(しょうひん)を巡(めぐ)ってお客様(きゃくさま)同士(どうし)が言(い)い合(あ)いになってしまった。
    Customers argued with each other over a limited number of limited edition products.
  • 税金(ぜいきん)の使(つか)い方(かた)を巡(めぐ)る議論(ぎろん)から、内戦(ないせん)が始(はじ)まってしまった。
    A debate over the use of taxes has led to a civil war.
Because of this, it can sound quite unnatural to use を巡(めぐ)って if the topic of (A) is simply a personal opinion.
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今日(きょう)、国会(こっかい)では増税(ぞうぜい)するべきかそのまま据(す)え置(お)きするべきかをめぐって激論(げきろん)が生(しょう)じた。
There was a heated debate today over whether the parliament should raise taxes or leave them as they are.
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スイスに於(お)いて貿易(ぼうえき)協定(きょうてい)をめぐり米国(べいこく)とヨーロッパ連合(れんごう)の交渉(こうしょう)が始(はじ)まりました。
The negotiations between the United States and the European Union in regard to a trade agreement began in Switzerland today.
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時代(じだい)とともに、海賊(かいぞく)王(おう)の宝(たから)が隠(かく)された場所(ばしょ)をめぐる様々(さまざま)な論争(ろんそう)が起(お)こった。
As time passed, various disputes arose concerning the location of the hidden treasure of the pirate king.
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新完全マスター、N2
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