outside world
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outside world
The world that exists outside one's own immediate sphere, for example outside one's home, company, an isolated community, or one's own thoughts.
Nach einer Woche im Krankenhaus war der erste Spaziergang ein intensiver Kontakt mit der Außenwelt.
After a week in the hospital, the first walk was an intense contact with the outside world.
The word is simply built from 'außen' (outside) and 'Welt' (world). So it literally describes the world that is located outside a particular area.
Die Astronauten hatten monatelang keinen direkten Kontakt zur Außenwelt.
The astronauts had no direct contact with the outside world for months.
'Außenwelt' (outside world) is almost always used in a context that implies a contrast with an 'inside.' This 'inside' can be a building, a country, or even one's own world of thoughts.
Für die Gefangenen war der Blick auf die Außenwelt sehr wichtig.
For the prisoners, the view of the outside world was very important.
Common phrases describe separation or connection. Typical ones are 'von der Außenwelt abgeschnitten sein' (to be cut off from the outside world) or 'den Kontakt zur Außenwelt verlieren/halten' (to lose/maintain contact with the outside world).
Das kleine Bergdorf ist im Winter oft von der Außenwelt abgeschnitten.
The small mountain village is often cut off from the outside world in winter.
The philosophical meaning, which refers to objective reality as opposed to subjective perception, is limited to intellectual and academic contexts.
Die Philosophie fragt, ob unsere Sinne die Außenwelt korrekt abbilden.
Philosophy asks whether our senses represent the external world correctly.
surroundings / environment
'die Umgebung' and 'die Außenwelt' can both mean something outside a person or a place. 'die Umgebung' is the immediate environment: the area around a house or a city, or also the people and circumstances around a person. 'die Außenwelt' places more emphasis on the contrast with a closed-off or inner area, for example with one's own apartment, a company, or one's own thoughts. The words can be confused because both sound like they refer to 'outside'. In practical terms: 'Umgebung' is what is nearby around something; 'Außenwelt' is the outside world in contrast to a clearly separated inside area.
Während der langen Krankheit hatte sie kaum Kontakt zur Außenwelt.
During her long illness, she had hardly any contact with the outside world.
Mein Nachbar kennt die Umgebung sehr gut und zeigt mir den schnellsten Weg zur Bahn.
My neighbor knows the area very well and shows me the fastest way to the train.