indirect
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indirect
Not occurring in a direct way, but indirectly, through the mediation of something or someone. The opposite of 'unmittelbar' (immediate/direct).
Die neuen Gesetze haben nur mittelbare Auswirkungen auf unser tägliches Leben.
The new laws have only indirect effects on our daily life.
The word is derived from 'das Mittel' (the means). Something that happens 'mittelbar' (indirectly) does not happen directly, but through a 'Mittel' (means), that is, an intermediate step or mediating institution.
Die Information erreichte uns nur auf mittelbarem Weg.
The information reached us only by an indirect route.
'Mittelbar' (indirect) is often combined with abstract nouns such as 'Auswirkung' (effect), 'Folge' (consequence), 'Einfluss' (influence), or 'Zusammenhang' (connection).
Die Entscheidung der Regierung hatte einen mittelbaren Einfluss auf die lokale Wirtschaft.
The government's decision had an indirect influence on the local economy.
This adjective belongs to a rather formal style of language. It is often found in legal, political, or academic texts.
Er ist nur mittelbar für den Schaden verantwortlich.
He is only indirectly responsible for the damage.
direct
'direkt' and 'mittelbar' both describe how something is connected to something else. 'direkt' means: without an intermediate step. So an effect, contact, or connection goes immediately from one thing to another. 'mittelbar', by contrast, means: not directly, but through something or someone in between. Learners may confuse the words because both are often used for consequences, influences, or relationships. A practical way to remember it is: with 'direkt' there is no detour; with 'mittelbar' there is an intermediate step.
Der Streik betrifft die Kunden nur mittelbar, weil zuerst die Lieferanten Probleme bekommen.
The strike affects customers only indirectly, because the suppliers run into problems first.
Die neue Regel hat direkte Folgen für alle Mitarbeiter.
The new rule has direct consequences for all employees.