01
tangieren
to affect
To touch, concern, or matter to someone emotionally or personally. Often used in negative forms.
example
Deine Meinung tangiert mich überhaupt nicht.
Your opinion doesn't affect me at all.
tangieren
to affect / to touch
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Meanings
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Usage tips
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'Tangieren' (to affect/to touch) is a word used in elevated language. In everyday language, people would often use simpler verbs instead, such as 'betreffen' (to concern/affect), 'berühren' (to touch), or 'kümmern' (to matter/care).
EXAMPLE
Dieses Problem tangiert uns nur am Rande.
This problem affects us only marginally.
Sentence structure with accusative
The verb 'tangieren' (to affect/to touch) always requires a direct object in the accusative. It describes what or who is affected or touched by something.
EXAMPLE
Die neue Regelung tangiert viele Mitarbeiter.
The new regulation affects many employees.
Frequent negation
In the emotional meaning, 'tangieren' (to affect) is very often negated to say that something is a matter of indifference to someone. The phrase 'Das tangiert mich nicht' (That doesn't affect me / That doesn't bother me) is a typical expression.
EXAMPLE
Ob du kommst oder nicht, tangiert mich nicht im Geringsten.
Whether you come or not doesn't affect me in the slightest.
Context clue
You can recognize the geometric meaning from the context. If words like 'Kreis' (circle), 'Gerade' (straight line), 'Kurve' (curve), or 'Punkt' (point) appear in the sentence, the mathematical meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Zwei Kreise können sich in einem Punkt tangieren.
Two circles can touch tangentially at one point.
Compare with
tangieren vs interessieren
to interest
'interessieren' and 'tangieren' can both express that something is important to a person or gets their attention. However, 'interessieren' is much more general and neutral: you want to know more about something, or you find something interesting. 'tangieren' more often means that something affects someone personally or emotionally. It sounds clearly more elevated and is often used in negative forms, for example: 'Das tangiert mich nicht' (That doesn't affect me). Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with inner involvement. In everyday language, 'interessieren' is usually more natural; 'tangieren' fits better when you want to say whether something touches someone personally or not.
tangieren
Die Kritik im Team tangiert sie nicht besonders.
The criticism within the team doesn't affect her very much.
interessieren
Ihr interessiert euch sehr für die neuen Kulturangebote in der Nachbarschaft.
You are very interested in the new cultural offerings in the neighborhood.
In real life
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