How do you use "about (Topic/Approximately)" in a sentence?

Tell me about your job. What's the film about? There were about 100 people. What about going to the cinema?

about (Topic/Approximately)

Q: What does "about (Topic/Approximately)" mean?

Indicating topic or approximation 'About' introduces a topic (a book about history, talk about) or means approximately (about 50 people, about 3 o'clock). 'What about...?' suggests or asks opinion.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Indicating topic or approximation

表示话题或大约

Indicar tema o aproximación

話題または概算を示す

주제 또는 대략을 나타내기

'About' introduces a topic (a book about history, talk about) or means approximately (about 50 people, about 3 o'clock). 'What about...?' suggests or asks opinion.

'About'引出话题（a book about history, talk about）或表示大约（about 50 people, about 3 o'clock）。'What about...?'用于建议或询问意见。

'About' introduce un tema (a book about history, talk about) o significa aproximadamente (about 50 people, about 3 o'clock). 'What about...?' sugiere o pide opinión.

「About」は話題を導入する（a book about history, talk about）か、おおよそを意味します（about 50 people, about 3 o'clock）。「What about...?」は提案したり意見を尋ねたりします。

'About'은 주제를 소개하거나(a book about history, talk about) 대략을 의미합니다(about 50 people, about 3 o'clock). 'What about...?'는 제안하거나 의견을 물을 때 씁니다.

Examples

Tell me about your job.
告诉我你的工作。
Cuéntame sobre tu trabajo.
あなたの仕事について教えてください。
당신의 직업에 대해 말해 주세요.
What's the film about?
这部电影是关于什么的？
¿De qué trata la película?
その映画は何についてですか？
그 영화는 무엇에 관한 건가요?
There were about 100 people.
大约有100人。
Había unas 100 personas.
約100人いました。
약 100명이 있었습니다.
What about going to the cinema?
去看电影怎么样？
¿Qué tal si vamos al cine?
映画に行くのはどうですか？
영화 보러 가는 건 어때요?

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

✓ Do Say

I'm thinking about you.
我在想你。
Estoy pensando en ti.
あなたのことを考えています。
당신을 생각하고 있어요.
It costs about £20.
大约20英镑。
Cuesta unas £20.
約20ポンドです。
약 20파운드 정도 합니다.
How about tomorrow?
明天怎么样？
¿Qué tal mañana?
明日はどうですか？
내일은 어때요?
A book about history.
一本关于历史的书。
Un libro sobre historia.
歴史についての本。
역사에 관한 책.
Tell me about your job.
跟我说说你的工作。
Cuéntame sobre tu trabajo.
あなたの仕事について教えてください。
당신의 직업에 대해 말해 주세요.

✗ Don't Say

A book of history. (for topic, use 'about')
A book of history.（话题用'about'）
A book of history. (para el tema se usa 'about')
A book of history.（話題には「about」を使う）
A book of history.（주제에는 'about'을 사용해야 함）
Tell me for your job. (use 'about')
Tell me for your job.（应用'about'）
Tell me for your job. (se usa 'about')
Tell me for your job.（「about」を使う）
Tell me for your job.（'about'을 사용해야 함）

Origin & History

Topic/approximation preposition

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal