incidental
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incidental
Of little meaning or importance; not central and therefore negligible.
Die Farbe des Autos ist nebensächlich, solange die Technik in Ordnung ist.
The color of the car is incidental as long as the technology is in good working order.
The word consists of 'neben' (next to/beside) and 'Sache' (thing/matter). It therefore describes something that stands only 'beside the main matter' and is thus less important. This derivation helps you remember the meaning.
Das Hauptthema ist klar, alles andere ist nebensächlich.
The main topic is clear; everything else is incidental.
You can use 'nebensächlich' (incidental) in two ways: as part of the predicate after a verb like 'sein' (to be), or as an adjective directly before a noun.
Für mich ist das Geld bei diesem Job nebensächlich.
For me, the money is incidental in this job.
The word is often used to describe aspects that distract from the main issue. Typical combinations are 'nebensächliche Details' (incidental details), 'eine nebensächliche Frage' (an incidental question), or 'eine nebensächliche Rolle spielen' (to play a minor role).
In der Diskussion sollten wir uns nicht mit nebensächlichen Details aufhalten.
In the discussion, we shouldn't get bogged down in incidental details.
unimportant
Unwichtig simply assesses something as not very important. Nebensächlich describes something that takes a back seat to a main matter. Use unwichtig without reference to a main topic; when there is a clear distinction between central and less central points, nebensächlich is more suitable.
Im Bericht ist die Farbe des Deckblatts nebensächlich, denn entscheidend sind die Ergebnisse.
In the report, the color of the cover page is incidental because the results are what matter.
Die Farbe des Deckblatts ist für unsere Entscheidung unwichtig.
The color of the cover page is unimportant to our decision.
