work-related / official
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work-related
Related to one's job, office, or service; not private. It describes actions, objects, or matters that take place within the context of work or belong to it.
Ich bin morgen dienstlich in einer anderen Stadt unterwegs.
Tomorrow I'll be away on business in another city.
The adjective 'dienstlich' (work-related/official) is derived from the noun 'der Dienst' (work, service). The ending '-lich' turns it into an adjective meaning 'related to work/service' or 'professional.'
Bitte verwenden Sie für die Arbeit nur die dienstliche E-Mail-Adresse.
Please use only the work email address for work.
'Dienstlich' is very often used as an adverb to express that an action happens for professional reasons. It then usually appears in the middle field of the sentence.
Wir haben uns auf der Konferenz nur dienstlich unterhalten.
We only talked about work at the conference.
Common combinations are 'dienstlich unterwegs sein' (to be traveling/on the road for work), 'dienstlich verreisen' (to travel on business), or a 'dienstliche Angelegenheit' (work-related matter). These expressions emphasize the professional character of an activity.
Nächste Woche bin ich drei Tage dienstlich in Berlin.
Next week I'll be in Berlin for three days on business.
personal / in person
'persönlich' and 'dienstlich' are often opposites. 'Persönlich' refers to a person's private or individual sphere. 'Dienstlich' refers to something that belongs to work, an office, or an official task. The difference is especially important with phone calls, emails, trips, or appointments. A number can be 'persönlich' if you use it privately. It is 'dienstlich' if it belongs to work. Learners may confuse the words because both describe a kind of purpose or area. Ask yourself: Does it belong to the private person or to the professional task?
Im Zug ist er dienstlich unterwegs und liest Akten.
He is traveling by train on business and reading files.
Zu Hause beantworte ich keine persönlichen Nachrichten vom Bürocomputer.
At home, I don't answer personal messages from the office computer.