についてandによって

[jkami]

について
によって

What is the difference of these two phrases? Example?

[delacroix01]

From what I've learned so far, について often means "concerning", or "about" something. によって means "according to", "due to", or "because of".

[chryuop]

Isn't によって used also to mark the agent in passive phrases? If so shouldn't it mean "by"?
Lol I guess we need some help here...

[kcyk8703]

によって： Whenever I use this its for explaining differences. (for example from my text book).
考え方は人によって違う。　（かんがえかたは　ひとに よって　ちがう。）
Meaning, people think differently.

The other usage is 'by means of'
ケイタイによって友達と簡単に連絡する。　（ケイタイ によって　友達と　かんたんに　れんらくする。
By using a cellphone I can easily contact friends.

について： delacroix is correct on this, usually means concerning or about　(again from my text)

彼はアジア文学についての論文を発表した。（かれは　 あじあぶんがくについての　ろんぶんをはっぴょうした 。）
He read his report about asian literature.

I think this information is correct, ill give myself a 90% accuracy mark....

[chryuop]

Originally Posted by kcyk8703

The other usage is 'by means of'
ケイタイによって友達と簡単に連絡する。　（ケイタイ によって　友達と　かんたんに　れんらくする。
By using a cellphone I can easily contact friends.

Thus によって can have the same meaning of で?

[kcyk8703]

Originally Posted by chryuop

Thus によって can have the same meaning of で?

I believe so, I dont usually hear によって in conversation. で is most common.

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by kcyk8703

The other usage is 'by means of'
ケイタイによって友達と簡単に連絡する。　（ケイタイ によって　友達と　かんたんに　れんらくする。
By using a cellphone I can easily contact friends.

Your sample sentences are good except for this one. Native speakers wouldn't say it.

When we use によって, we almost always describe "how something enables you to do something". This means that the verb phrase ends in ～できる, ~する事ができる, ～が可能になる, etc. Yours ends in する, which makes it sound kind of awkward.

One more thing if I may... It would sound better if you say 友達に instead of 友達と. I know you hear the latter among young people, but they will change in time because they already know that adults don't use と there. They pretend they don't hear us so they can keep talkin' cool.

[kcyk8703]

Originally Posted by Nagoyankee

Your sample sentences are good except for this one. Native speakers wouldn't say it.

When we use によって, we almost always describe "how something enables you to do something". This means that the verb phrase ends in ～できる, ~する事ができる, ～が可能になる, etc. Yours ends in する, which makes it sound kind of awkward.

One more thing if I may... It would sound better if you say 友達に instead of 友達と. I know you hear the latter among young people, but they will change in time because they already know that adults don't use と there. They pretend they don't hear us so they can keep talkin' cool.

Thanks for the insight Nagoyankee. I always have difficulty with particles and my self study time is very short (my own fault).