objective / functional
Loading your saved state.
objective
Relating only to facts and free from personal feelings or opinions; objective and neutral.
Bitte bleiben Sie bei der Diskussion sachlich und werden Sie nicht persönlich.
Please remain objective during the discussion and don't get personal.
functional
Reduced to what is functional and essential; simple and without decoration in design or style.
Die Einrichtung des Büros ist modern und sachlich gehalten.
The office furnishings are kept modern and functional.
The adjective 'sachlich' derives directly from 'die Sache' (the matter/thing). It means focusing on the facts ('die Sache' — the matter) without personal feelings or unnecessary details. This origin explains both meanings of the word.
Lassen Sie uns über die Sache selbst sprechen und dabei sachlich bleiben.
Let's talk about the matter itself and remain objective.
The context shows which meaning is intended. If 'sachlich' describes communication or behavior (discussion, criticism), it means 'objektiv' (objective). If it describes an object or a style (furniture, architecture), it means 'schlicht' (simple/plain) or 'funktional' (functional).
Seine E-Mail war kurz und sachlich formuliert.
His email was worded briefly and objectively.
In the meaning of 'objektiv' (objective), 'sachlich' is very frequently used with the verb 'bleiben' (to remain/stay). Other typical combinations are 'eine sachliche Diskussion' (an objective discussion), 'sachliche Kritik' (objective criticism), or 'sachlich argumentieren' (to argue objectively).
Obwohl das Thema emotional war, blieb die Journalistin immer sachlich.
Although the topic was emotional, the journalist always remained objective.
dry
Trocken describes an understated, often ironic kind of humor in which a joke sounds almost like a serious statement. Sachlich, by contrast, describes only a neutral, fact-focused presentation. Use trocken when the intended effect is deliberately humorous; without humor, sachlich is the more appropriate choice.
Sachlich erklärte sie, dass der Drucker wegen eines Papierstaus nicht arbeite.
Objectively, she explained that the printer was not working because of a paper jam.
Mit trockenem Humor erklärte sie, dass auch ihr Drucker offenbar montags nicht arbeiten wolle.
With dry humor, she explained that apparently her printer did not want to work on Mondays either.
