〜にまつわる: 'Related To / Concerning' (Stories, Legends, History)
Stories that have grown up around something
にまつわる singles out tales, legends, anecdotes, or historical episodes that are tied to a particular person, place, object, or event. It always sits in front of a noun like 話, 伝説, エピソード, or 物語.
この神社には不思議な伝説にまつわる話が多い。
この じんじゃには ふしぎな でんせつに まつわる はなしが おおい。
There are many stories tied to strange legends about this shrine.
彼にまつわるエピソードを聞かせてください。
かれに まつわる エピソードを きかせてください。
Please tell me an anecdote associated with him.
戦争にまつわる悲しい物語が語り継がれている。
せんそうに まつわる かなしい ものがたりが かたりつがれている。
Sad stories connected to the war have been passed down.
Form: 名詞 + にまつわる + 名詞
にまつわる attaches to a noun and functions as an attributive (adnominal) modifier, always followed directly by another noun — it can't end a sentence on its own the way に関する rarely does either.
| What you attach to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (person/place/event) | 名詞 + にまつわる + 名詞 | 神社にまつわる伝説 |
| Noun (object) | 名詞 + にまつわる + 名詞 | この指輪にまつわる話 |
やったんにまつわる面白い噂を、モチが教えてくれた。
やったんに まつわる おもしろい うわさを、モチが おしえてくれた。
Mochi told me an amusing rumor connected to Yattan.
にまつわる directly modifies 噂 (rumor).
にまつわる vs に関する: narrative vs neutral
Both can translate as "related to / concerning," but 〜に関する is neutral and broad — it works for reports, data, regulations, anything "on the topic of." 〜にまつわる is narrower and more narrative — reserved almost exclusively for stories, legends, episodes, and history with a human or folkloric flavor.
この論文は環境問題に関する調査だ。
この ろんぶんは かんきょう もんだいに かんする ちょうさだ。
This paper is a survey concerning environmental issues.
Neutral, factual topic → に関する, not にまつわる.
The short version
- 〜にまつわる = "related to / associated with" — for stories, legends, episodes, and history tied to something.
- Attaches to: a noun, and always modifies a following noun (話, 伝説, エピソード, 物語…).
- Nuance/register: written/formal, narrative in flavor.
- Don't confuse with: に関する, the neutral, general-purpose "concerning" used for reports, data, and factual topics.
Practice it
Choose にまつわる to modify a noun about a story, legend, or episode tied to something.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
この神社には不思議な伝説＿＿＿話が多い。
Where 〜にまつわる fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜てください · N5 — 〜てください is the standard way to politely ask someone to do something ('please do…'). Learn the formation, the negative 〜ないでください, softer variations, and see clear examples.
More N1 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜に則って — 〜に則って means 'in accordance with' or 'based on' — a formal N1 pattern used when acting according to laws, rules, standards, or established precedent, not personal opinion.
- 〜に先駆けて — 〜に先駆けて means 'ahead of others' or 'as a pioneer' — a formal N1 expression for being the first to do something before competitors or peers, common in business and tech news.
- 〜に堪える — 〜に堪える means something is good or strong enough to 'withstand' an action — worth watching, worthy of trust. Its negative, 〜に堪えない, is far more common and means the opposite: too poor or painful to bear.
- 〜に足る — 〜に足る attaches to a noun or the dictionary form of a verb and means 'enough to,' 'worthy of,' or 'sufficient for' — the thing clears the bar a specific purpose requires. It's close to に値する but leans on adequacy rather than abstract worth.
- 〜によらず — によらず is a formal expression meaning 'regardless of / irrespective of' (年齢によらず参加できる). It attaches to a noun to state that a rule or possibility holds no matter what that factor is, often in official announcements.
- 〜の至り — 〜の至り attaches to an emotion noun to mean 'the utmost' or 'the height of' — 光栄の至り (the height of honor). It's a formal, often humble expression for feeling something at its most extreme, typically joy, honor, or shame.