weiterreichen
to pass
To pass an object on to the next person in a row.
EXAMPLE
Könntest du mir bitte das Salz weiterreichen?
Could you please pass me the salt?
weiterreichen
to pass on
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Meanings
weiterreichen
to pass on
To hand over information, a task, or a responsibility to another person or office.
EXAMPLE
Der Abteilungsleiter hat die Anfrage an die zuständige Kollegin weitergereicht.
The department head passed the inquiry on to the responsible colleague.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Weiterreichen' (to pass on) is a separable verb. The prefix 'weiter-' comes at the end of the main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er reichte die Unterlagen an seine Kollegin weiter.
He passed the documents on to his colleague.
Sentence structure with dative
When an object is passed on to a person, that person is in the dative. The pattern is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) weiterreichen.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir bitte die Butter weiterreichen?
Can you please pass me the butter?
Sentence structure with 'an'
When information or a task is passed on, the recipient is often connected with the preposition 'an' and the accusative. The pattern is: etwas (accusative) an jemanden (accusative) weiterreichen.
EXAMPLE
Ich werde Ihre Beschwerde an die zuständige Abteilung weiterreichen.
I will pass your complaint on to the responsible department.
Context clue
Whether an object (meaning 1) or information (meaning 2) is meant can be recognized from the object. Concrete things like 'Salz' (salt) or 'Buch' (book) point to the first meaning, while abstract things like 'Frage' (question), 'Aufgabe' (task), or 'Information' (information) point to the second.
EXAMPLE
Reichst du mir den Stift weiter? (Gegenstand)
Will you pass me the pen? (object)
Compare with
weiterreichen vs weitergeben
to pass on
Weitergeben and weiterreichen can both refer to handing an object to another person. Weitergeben is the general expression. Weiterreichen particularly suggests that the object reaches the next person in a row or chain.
weiterreichen
In der Sitzreihe reicht Nina das Programmheft an Paul weiter.
Sitting in the row, Nina passes the program booklet on to Paul.
weitergeben
Nach dem Lesen gibt Nina das Buch an Paul weiter.
After reading it, Nina passes the book to Paul.
In real life
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