间接

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Character Breakdown

Usage of 间接 (jiànjiē)

The adjective 间接 means "indirect" and is used to describe actions, effects, or communication that are not direct or immediate. It often contrasts with 直接 (direct).

Common contexts

  • Describing indirect methods or means, such as learning or communication.
  • Grammar: 间接 is frequently used in the phrase 间接 (indirect speech) to report what someone else said without quoting them verbatim.
  • Causation: It can describe causes or effects that are not immediate but happen through an intermediate step.

Collocations and patterns

  • 间接方式 (indirect method): used when emphasizing the non-direct approach.
  • 间接影响 (indirect influence): to describe effects that are not direct.
  • 间接 (indirect speech): a grammatical term.

Notes

When using 间接, speakers imply a level of separation or mediation between the subject and the effect or information. It is often used in formal or written contexts but also appears in spoken language. Avoid confusing it with 直接, which means direct. For example, 间接了解 means to understand something through intermediaries or secondhand information, not firsthand.

Example Sentences

He learned about the company's situation through indirect means.

Indirect speech is often used to report what others have said.

This accident was indirectly caused by equipment aging.