If an idea or remark is germane to something, it belongs there in an important, suitable way — it is on the point, not merely nearby.

If an idea or remark如果一個想法或言論 is germane to something對某件事是germane, it belongs there就表示它屬於那裡 in an important, suitable way以一種重要、恰當的方式 — it is on the point它是切中要點, not merely nearby不只是碰巧沾上邊。

You will meet it in essays, meetings, and law: “Is this germane to the question?” It feels formal. In everyday talk people say relevant or on-topic instead.

You will meet it你會遇到它 in essays, meetings, and law在論文、會議和法律場合: “Is this germane to the question?”「Is this germane to the question?」（這跟問題切題嗎？） It feels formal它給人正式的感覺。In everyday talk日常說話 people say相反地大家會說 relevant or on-topic instead relevant或on-topic。

It does not mean German (from Germany).

It does not mean它不是指 German German (from Germany)（德國的）。

It is a variant of an older word german meaning “related / of the same parents,” and this “fits the matter” sense was helped into English by the way Shakespeare used it in Hamlet.

It is a variant of an older word它是一個較舊的字german的變體 german meaning “related / of the same parents,”意思是「有血緣關係／同父母的」 and而 this “fits the matter” sense這個「切合事情」的意思 was helped into English是被帶進英文的 by the way Shakespeare used it in Hamlet透過莎士比亞在《哈姆雷特》裡的用法。

Chemists also have a noun germane (a germanium gas); that is a different word that only happens to look the same. For almost every student, only the adjective matters.

Chemists also have a noun化學家也有一個名詞 germane germane (a germanium gas)（一種鍺氣體）; that is a different word那是另一個字 that only happens to look the same只是剛好長得一樣。For almost every student對幾乎每個學生來說, only the adjective matters只有形容詞這個用法重要。