を巡って
Concerning, In regard to, About, (Split) over
Structure
Noun + をめぐる + Noun
(1) をめぐり
Explanation
A more formal way to express 'concerning (A)' in Japanese is by combining a noun with the case marking particle を and the う-Verb 巡る, which means 'to go around'. This can be used in its て-form, or in its dictionary form to modify another noun.
This pattern typically translates to 'concerning (A)', 'regarding (A)', or 'over (A)'. Reflecting the original meaning of the verb, more nuanced translations like 'revolving around (A)' or 'surrounding the issue of (A)' are also fitting.
- 遺産相続を巡って、家族の間で話し合いが続いている。Discussions among the family are continuing regarding the inheritance.
- 新しい社長を巡るうわさが社内に広まっている。Rumors surrounding the new company president are spreading throughout the office.
- 新しいビルの建設を巡って、町の住民の意見が分かれている。The town's residents are divided over the construction of the new building.
Caution
Besides being fairly formal, を巡って retains the nuance of 'circling a topic' from its base verb. This implies that the situation involves multiple perspectives rather than a single opinion, so it is often used when there is a conflict or debate about (A).
- 最後のケーキを巡って、兄弟がけんかになった。The siblings got into a fight over the last piece of cake.
- 天然資源を巡る競争は、時に国際問題へと発展する。The competition for natural resources sometimes develops into an international problem.
For this reason, using を巡って can sound awkward when the subject (A) is just a matter of one's own personal viewpoint.
Examples
父の遺産を巡る兄弟間の争いは泥沼化した。
The dispute between the siblings over their father's inheritance has become a quagmire.
新しい服装規定を巡って、社員たちの間で不満の声が上がっている。
Voices of discontent are rising among the employees regarding the new dress code.
その歴史的事件の解釈を巡る議論はまだ終わっていない。
The debate surrounding the interpretation of that historical event has not yet ended.
あの二人の関係を巡って、色々な噂が飛び交っている。
Various rumors are flying around concerning the relationship between those two.
来年度の予算を巡って、各部署の利害が対立している。
The interests of each department are clashing over next fiscal year's budget.
契約内容を巡っての交渉は難航した。
The negotiations regarding the terms of the contract were difficult.
チャンピオンのタイトルを巡って、二人のボクサーが激しく戦った。
The two boxers fought fiercely over the championship title.
ダム建設を巡る環境問題が大きく取り上げられた。
The environmental problems surrounding the dam's construction were widely reported.
犯人の特定を巡っての目撃証言が食い違っている。
The eyewitness testimonies concerning the identification of the culprit are conflicting.
土地の所有権を巡り、長年の裁判が続いている。
A long-standing court case is ongoing over the ownership of the land.
プロジェクトを継続するか中止にするかを巡って、役員会は紛糾した。
The board meeting was thrown into confusion over whether to continue or cancel the project.
資源開発を巡り、両国間の緊張が高まっている。
Tensions are rising between the two countries over the development of natural resources.