external / outward
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external / outward
Relating to the outer appearance, surface, or look of something, as opposed to the inside or essence.
Äußerlich wirkte er ruhig, aber innerlich war er sehr nervös.
Outwardly, he seemed calm, but inwardly he was very nervous.
external
Intended for use on the skin or surface of the body, not for ingestion.
Diese Salbe ist nur zur äußerlichen Anwendung gedacht.
This ointment is intended for external use only.
The word 'äußerlich' (external/outward) is derived directly from 'außen' (outside). The ending '-lich' turns it into an adjective that describes how something is or looks from the outside.
Die äußerliche Fassade des Hauses war neu gestrichen.
The external facade of the house had been newly painted.
In the meaning 'relating to appearance', 'äußerlich' (outwardly/externally) is very often used as an adverb to create a contrast with 'innerlich' (inwardly/internally). This pattern emphasizes the difference between appearance and reality.
Äußerlich schien alles in Ordnung, aber innerlich fühlte sie sich leer.
Outwardly, everything seemed fine, but inwardly she felt empty.
In a medical context, 'äußerlich' (external) is almost always used in the fixed expression 'zur äußerlichen Anwendung' (for external use). This note appears on medications like ointments or creams that must not be taken orally.
Achtung: Diese Tinktur ist nur zur äußerlichen Anwendung bestimmt.
Warning: This tincture is intended for external use only.
apparently / seemingly
Scheinbar ruhig means that the calm is not real. Äußerlich ruhig, by contrast, describes only visible behavior and contrasts it with what is happening inside. Use scheinbar when you want to emphasize the false impression; use äußerlich when you distinguish between outward behavior and inner experience.
Mara blieb äußerlich ruhig, obwohl sie innerlich große Angst hatte.
Mara remained outwardly calm, although she was very afraid inside.
Mara blieb scheinbar ruhig, doch tatsächlich geriet sie in Panik.
Mara remained seemingly calm, but in fact she was panicking.
