Empfindliches

Empfindliches is the neuter singular attributive form of the German adjective empfindlich. It describes a neuter noun in contexts where there is no definite determiner or when using an indefinite article, conveying meanings such as “delicate” or “sensitive.” For example, man spricht von einem empfindliches Material oder empfindliches Gewebe, but with a definite article the form changes to das empfindliche Material. This word is commonly used in both physical and figurative contexts.

In physical terms, empfindlich characterizes things that are easily damaged or require careful handling, such as empfindliches Gewebe, empfindliches Material, or ein empfindliches Gerät. In figurative usage, it can describe people or systems that are easily affected by stimuli or criticism, as in ein empfindliches Gemüt (a sensitive temperament) or eine empfindliche Angelegenheit (a delicate matter). The adjective can also describe susceptibility to sensations, for example empfindlich gegenüber Lärm (sensitive to noise).

Etymology and related forms: empfindlich derives from the verb empfinden (to feel, perceive) and the adjectival suffix -lich, forming a word that literally means “capable of being felt.” The noun Empfindung means sensation or feeling. The form empfindliches is part of the standard German adjective declension: it appears when describing neuter nouns without a definite article or with certain determiners, while das empfindliche Material shows the different ending after a definite article.

See also: German adjective declension, empfindlich, Empfindung.