-에 대해(서)
About, Regarding
Attach -에 대해(서) to a noun to mean 'about' or 'regarding' that noun. It specifies the subject of an action or thought.
How It Works
This pattern is used to specify the subject matter that an action or state is related to. It's the direct equivalent of 'about' or 'concerning' in English.
Structure:
It is attached directly to a noun: Noun + -에 대해(서).
Usage:
It is most commonly followed by verbs related to communication, thought, or investigation, such as:
- 말하다/이야기하다: to talk about
- 발표하다: to present about
- 쓰다: to write about
- 생각하다: to think about
- 알다/모르다: to know/not know about
- 배우다: to learn about
- 묻다: to ask about
- 조사하다: to investigate about
-에 대해 vs. -에 대해서
The -서 is optional and frequently omitted, especially in spoken Korean. There is no significant change in meaning. Including -서 can sometimes sound slightly more formal or complete.
e.g., 한국 역사에 대해 말해주세요. = 한국 역사에 대해서 말해주세요. (Please tell me about Korean history.)
Noun-Modifying Form: -에 대한
When you want to describe a noun that is 'about' something, the pattern changes to -에 대한. This form acts like an adjective.
e.g., 환경 문제에 대한 보고서 (a report about environmental issues)
e.g., 그 사건에 대한 새로운 정보 (new information about that incident)
Examples (5)
- 한국 문화에 대해서 배우고 싶어요.
I want to learn about Korean culture.
Word by Word: Korean culture about want to learn.
- 그 문제에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?
What do you think about that problem?
Word by Word: That problem about how do you think?
- 저는 환경 보호에 대해 발표할 거예요.
I'm going to give a presentation about environmental protection.
Word by Word: I environmental protection about will present.
- 그 영화에 대해 친구와 이야기했어요.
I talked with my friend about that movie.
Word by Word: That movie about with a friend talked.
- 이것은 한국의 전통 음식에 대한 책입니다.
This is a book about traditional Korean food.
Word by Word: This is Korea's traditional food about book is.
Here, the noun-modifying form -에 대한 is used to describe the '책' (book).
Common Mistakes
Using -에 대해(서) when the topic marker 은/는 is more natural.
Not Quite한국 역사에 대해서 재미있어요.Better한국 역사는 재미있어요.-에 대해(서) specifies the subject of an action (like talking, thinking, learning). When simply stating a fact or opinion about a noun as the main topic of the sentence, the topic marker 은/는 is more appropriate. You could say '저는 한국 역사에 대해 관심이 많아요' (I am interested in Korean history).
Using it with verbs that describe a direct action on an object.
Not Quite저는 그 문제에 대해서 풀었어요.Better저는 그 문제를 풀었어요.-에 대해(서) means 'about' a topic. For direct actions on an object, like 'solving a problem', use the object marker 을/를. You would use -에 대해(서) if you were talking about solving the problem, e.g., '그 문제를 푸는 방법에 대해 이야기했어요' (We talked about how to solve that problem).
Learn This First
To talk about topics 'about/regarding', you need the basic marker 에.
Related Patterns
- 은/는Topic Marker
Both can mark a topic, but 은/는 is the general topic marker for a sentence, while -에 대해(서) specifically marks the subject matter of an action like 'talking about' or 'thinking about'.
- -ㄴ/은Adjective Noun Modifier
The noun-modifying form of this pattern is '-에 대한', which uses the -ㄴ/은 noun modifier ending. For example, '환경 문제에 대한 기사' (an article about environmental issues).
- -에 따라(서)According to, Depending on
This pattern has a similar structure (Noun + 에 + Verb + 서), but -에 따라(서) means 'according to' or 'depending on', indicating a basis or standard, whereas -에 대해(서) indicates the topic of discussion.