57 Topic, focus, and emphasis
57.1 Introducing a topic
The topic is the thing that is being discussed or written about. Mandarin has a variety of ways
to introduce and identify the topic. Here are the most common.57.1.1 expressions that introduce the topic of a sentence
Mandarin uses the following expressions to introduce the topic of a sentence.
至于/至於 zhìyú ‘concerning, regarding, as for’
至于我们两个人的事情，你就不要管了。
至於我們兩個人的事情，你就不要管了。
Zhìyú wǒmen liǎng gè rén de shìqing, nǐ jiù bù yào guǎn le.
As for the matter between the two of us, you don’t have to pay attention to it.
对于/對於 duìyú ‘concerning, regarding, as for (topic)’
对于中国的情形，我也不太清楚。
對於中國的情形，我也不太清楚。
Duìyú Zhōngguó de qíngxing, wǒ yě bù tài qīngchu.
Regarding China’s state of affairs, I am also not too clear (about it).
关于/關於 guānyú ‘concerning, regarding, as for (topic)’
关于国家大事，我们都应该注意。
關於國家大事，我們都應該注意。
Guānyú guójiā dà shì, wǒmen dōu yīnggāi zhùyì.
As for the major events of (our) country, we all should pay attention.
对 (topic) 来说/對 (topic) 來說 duì (topic) lái shuō ‘as for (topic).. .’
对我来说，教书是一件很快乐的事。
對我來說，教書是一件很快樂的事。
Duì wǒ lái shuō, jiāo shū shì yī jiàn hěn kuàilè de shì.
As for me, teaching is a very enjoyable task.
论(到)/論(到) lùn (dào) ‘speaking about (topic)’
论到足球，我是一窍不通。
論到足球，我是一竅不通。
Lùn dào zúqiú, wǒ shì yīqiào bù tōng.
Speaking about football, I am completely ignorant.
提(到) tí (dào) ‘speaking about (topic)’
提到奥运，你觉得那个裁判公平不公平？
提到奧運，你覺得那個裁判公平不公平？
Tí dào Aòyùn, nǐ juéde nàge cáipàn gōngpíng bù gōngpíng?
Speaking about the Olympics, do you think that decision was fair?