self-employed / independent
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self-employed
Working professionally on one's own account and responsibility, not as an employee in a company. Synonymous with 'freelance'.
Nach vielen Jahren als Angestellte hat sie sich als Grafikdesignerin selbständig gemacht.
After many years as an employee, she became self-employed as a graphic designer.
independent
Able to do things without the help or guidance of others; independent and responsible for oneself.
Das Kind ist für sein Alter schon sehr selbständig und kann sich alleine anziehen.
For his age, the child is already very independent and can get dressed by himself.
independent
Refers to a unit that exists on its own and is not part of something larger.
Die Garage ist kein Anbau, sondern ein selbständiges Gebäude auf dem Grundstück.
The garage is not an extension, but an independent building on the property.
The word is made up of 'selbst' (self) and 'ständig' (from 'stehen', to stand). So the literal idea is that someone or something 'stands on its own feet' and is not dependent on others.
Als selbständiger Berater kann er seine Arbeitszeit frei einteilen.
As a self-employed consultant, he can organize his working hours freely.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. In a professional context, 'selbständig' (self-employed) usually means 'freelance'. When referring to people, it describes independence in action. When referring to objects, it means that they are separate and independent.
Er arbeitet als selbständiger Programmierer für verschiedene Firmen.
He works as a self-employed programmer for various companies.
The fixed expression 'sich selbständig machen' means to start working freelance or to found one's own company. The verb 'machen' (to make/do) is often used here.
Sie träumt davon, sich mit einem eigenen Café selbständig zu machen.
She dreams of becoming self-employed with her own café.
'Selbständig' can also be used as an adverb and then means 'without help'. It describes how an action is carried out.
Die Kinder haben das Problem ganz selbständig gelöst.
The children solved the problem completely independently.
independent
For a person who works without outside help, both unabhängig and selbständig can be appropriate. Unabhängig emphasizes the lack of ties to or dependence on others; selbständig emphasizes the ability to carry out a task without help or guidance. Use selbständig when the focus is on carrying out the task oneself.
Lea erstellt den Bericht inzwischen selbständig ohne weitere Anleitung.
Lea now prepares the report independently, without further guidance.
Lea arbeitet inzwischen unabhängig von ihrem Team.
Lea now works independently of her team.
