Meaning and Usage
"間接" (かんせつ) means "indirect" or "indirectness." It is often used to describe actions, involvement, or communication that is not direct or straightforward.
Common Contexts
This word appears frequently in formal or academic contexts, such as economics (e.g., 間接税, indirect tax) or communication styles (e.g., 間接的な表現, indirect expressions).
Collocations and Patterns
- 間接的に (かんせつてきに): adverb meaning "indirectly," used to describe how something is done.
- 間接税 (かんせつぜい): "indirect tax," a common economic term.
- 間接的な表現 (かんせつてきなひょうげん): "indirect expression," often used to soften statements.
Nuances and Tips
Using 間接 often implies a level of subtlety or avoidance of directness, which can be polite or strategic in communication. Be careful not to confuse 間接 with 直接 (ちょくせつ), which means "direct." Learners sometimes mix these two, so remember 間接 involves some degree of separation or mediation.