opzichten

Opzichten is a Dutch noun meaning the aspects, considerations, or prospects that are taken into account when evaluating a situation. In everyday language the term is less common than vooruitzichten or perspectieven, but it appears in formal or policy-oriented texts to refer to the multiple regards or facets of an issue, such as economic, social, or legal opzichten. The plural form opzichten is used to denote several aspects that are weighed or considered.

Etymology: Opzichten is derived from opzicht, which means regard or aspect. The plural opzichten refers to multiple regards or facets and is related to the idea of viewing a topic from multiple perspectives.

Usage: In policy, finance, or planning contexts, opzichten is used to discuss the prospects or outlooks for a given period, for example de opzichten op economische groei or de opzichten voor de komende jaren. In more everyday language, mensen use vooruitzichten or perspectieven; opzichten tends to appear in more formal, analytical, or technical prose.

Examples: De opzichten op de arbeidsmarkt blijven onzeker. De lange-termijnopzichten voor de economie zijn gunstig. In dit opzicht is de analyse consistent, maar op andere opzichten zijn er twijfels.

See also: vooruitzichten, perspectieven, toekomstperspectieven, opzicht (in de vaste uitdrukking in dit opzicht).