N3
について
Concerning, About, Regarding
彼女と別れたことについて話したいんだけど時間ある？
I want to talk to you about breaking up with my girlfriend, but do you have time?
Explanation
「～について」 means 'about, concerning'. What comes before it is the thing you think about, talk about, investigate or study: 「環境問題について調べる」 (I look into environmental problems). Before a verb use 「について」 (can add 「は・も」); before a noun use 「についての」: 「環境問題についてのレポート」 (a report on environmental problems). It works in speech and writing.
Mixed up with
「に関して」 is more formal and broader, common in business, official documents and papers.
「について」 goes with verbs of saying, thinking and investigating.
「に対して」 is an attitude or action toward a person or thing: 「お客様に対して失礼な態度」 (a rude attitude toward customers). You can't use 「について」 there.
Easily confused withについて・を巡って: the difference ›