about this / over this
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about this
Refers to a topic or matter that has just been mentioned; means 'about this topic' or 'on this matter'.
Es gibt verschiedene Meinungen, und hierüber müssen wir noch ausführlich sprechen.
There are different opinions, and we still need to talk about this in detail.
over this
Indicates spatial movement over a place or thing; means 'over this spot'. This use is rarer and rather formal.
Die Brücke scheint nicht sehr stabil, aber wir müssen hierüber, um auf die andere Seite zu kommen.
The bridge doesn't seem very stable, but we have to go over this to get to the other side.
'Hierüber' is a pronominal adverb made up of 'hier' (here) and the preposition 'über' (over/about). It replaces the combination 'über dies' or 'über das' (about this/that) and refers to a thing or topic that has just been mentioned.
Das ist ein wichtiger Punkt. Hierüber sollten wir später noch einmal nachdenken.
That is an important point. We should think about this again later.
Like many adverbs, 'hierüber' (about this) can stand in position 1 in the sentence. In this case, the conjugated verb follows directly after it (inversion).
Hierüber gibt es unterschiedliche Ansichten.
There are different views about this.
'Hierüber' is used mainly in written language and in formal conversations. It often sounds more formal and detached.
Der Ausschuss wird nächste Woche hierüber beraten.
The committee will deliberate on this next week.
The spatial meaning 'über diese Stelle' (over this spot) is very rare today and often sounds old-fashioned. Almost always, the abstract meaning 'über dieses Thema' (about this topic) is meant, referring to a matter mentioned previously.
Der Pfad ist schmal, aber wir müssen hierüber, um zum Gipfel zu gelangen.
The path is narrow, but we have to go over this to reach the summit.
to that / additionally
Both words can refer to a topic that has just been mentioned. dazu is the neutral, common form, while hierüber emphasizes the topic explicitly and sounds somewhat formal. Use dazu in ordinary conversations and hierüber when the connection to the topic should be especially clear or sound more literary.
Hierüber möchte ich im Gespräch noch etwas sagen.
I’d still like to say something about this during the conversation.
Dazu möchte ich im Gespräch noch etwas sagen.
I’d still like to say something about that during the conversation.
