The difference between について and こと

[Bucko]

When you want to express "about" what's the difference between について and こと, and how do you know when to use each?

E.g.
日本のこと話していました。 = We were talking about Japan
彼女について何も知りません。 = I don't know anything about her

Would 日本について話していて also be acceptable? (or better, even?)

[Jason]

I believe Bueller-san once said that こと here is actually short for ことについて.

[Outkast]

I might be off, but a tutor told me that こと is the equivilant of "experience of", is used when you are expressing the exerience of something. Like I said, I could have misunderstood though...

[Bueller_007]

I believe Bueller-san once said that こと here is actually short for ことについて.

Hmmm.... I don't think I said this...

Anyway, 9/10 you want to use について, I think.

I'm not sure about the difference, but that's definitely the more common form.

Sometimes it's awkward, though.

For example, you wouldn't normally say:
あなたについて思い出す。
You should say:
あなたのことを思い出す。

So it may just depend on what verb you're using.

Remember that こと just means "thing/matter".
So:
日本のことを話す means "to discuss Japanese matters/matters regarding Japan"
日本について話す means "to talk about Japan"
Basically the same, yeah? So don't worry about it.

[Jason]

I believe Bueller-san once said that こと here is actually short for ことについて.

Hmmm.... I don't think I said this...

Stupid brain remembering things that didn't happen...