En 15 segundos
- To gain or gather skills and wisdom over time.
- Commonly used in professional resumes and personal travel stories.
- Uses the verb 'sammeln' (to collect) like a hobby.
Significado
Think of this as gathering life lessons or skills like you're picking up seashells on a beach. It describes the process of learning through doing, whether in a job or just through life adventures.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6In a job interview
Ich möchte in Ihrer Marketing-Abteilung neue Erfahrungen sammeln.
I would like to gain new experience in your marketing department.
Talking about a trip
Auf meiner Reise durch Asien habe ich viele wertvolle Erfahrungen gesammelt.
I gathered many valuable experiences on my trip through Asia.
Texting a friend about a failed experiment
Der Kuchen ist verbrannt, aber hey, ich habe Erfahrungen gesammelt!
The cake is burnt, but hey, I gained some experience!
Contexto cultural
The phrase reflects the German ideal of 'Wanderjahre' (wandering years). Historically, craftsmen had to travel for years to gather skills before becoming masters. Today, this 'collecting' mindset applies to internships and global travel.
The Plural Secret
While English says 'gain experience' (singular), Germans almost always say 'Erfahrungen sammeln' (plural). It sounds more natural!
Don't 'Get' It
Avoid saying 'Erfahrung bekommen'. It sounds like the experience was delivered to you by mail. Use 'sammeln' to show you were active.
En 15 segundos
- To gain or gather skills and wisdom over time.
- Commonly used in professional resumes and personal travel stories.
- Uses the verb 'sammeln' (to collect) like a hobby.
What It Means
Erfahrungen sammeln is a beautiful way to say you are growing. It's not just about a single event. It is about a process. You are actively gathering wisdom. Imagine you are a traveler. Each trip gives you a new perspective. You are 'collecting' these moments. In German, we don't just 'get' experience. We 'collect' it like a hobbyist collects stamps. It implies you are active and curious. You aren't just sitting there. You are out in the world doing things.
How To Use It
You use this phrase with the verb sammeln at the end. In a normal sentence, it looks like this: Ich sammle Erfahrungen. If you are talking about the past, you say: Ich habe Erfahrungen gesammelt. You can add adjectives too. You might collect 'valuable' (wertvolle) or 'new' (neue) experiences. It is a very flexible phrase. You can use it for your career. You can use it for your personal life. It always sounds positive and proactive.
When To Use It
This is a superstar phrase for job interviews. Tell them you want to Erfahrungen sammeln in their industry. They will love your motivation. Use it when talking about your gap year. Use it when you try a new hobby like pottery. It works perfectly when you move to a new city. Even texting a friend about a weird date works. You can joke that at least you 'collected an experience'. It makes even failures sound like a win because you learned something.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for tiny, one-off things. You don't Erfahrungen sammeln by buying a loaf of bread. That is just a task. Also, avoid it if you already know everything. If you are an expert, you don't 'collect' experience anymore. You 'have' it (Erfahrung haben). Don't use it for passive things either. You don't collect experience by watching TV. You need to be the main character of the story. If you aren't doing the work, you aren't collecting the points.
Cultural Background
Germans have a deep love for Bildung. This means self-cultivation or personal growth. We believe life is a long school. Collecting experience is seen as a duty to yourself. It’s why many Germans travel for a year after high school. They aren't just 'partying'. They are 'collecting experiences'. It is a respected way to build character. A person with many 'collected experiences' is seen as wise and grounded. It's a very 'pro-growth' mindset.
Common Variations
You will often hear Berufserfahrung sammeln. This specifically means gaining work experience. Then there is Lebenserfahrung. This is the wisdom you get just by being alive for a long time. Sometimes people say Erste Erfahrungen sammeln. This is for beginners or interns. It means 'taking the first steps'. You can also 'gather' experiences in a specific field. For example: Erfahrungen im Ausland sammeln. This means gaining experience abroad. It’s the ultimate traveler’s goal!
Notas de uso
The phrase is perfectly neutral and works in 95% of situations. Just remember that 'sammeln' is a regular verb, but it requires you to be an active participant in the learning process.
The Plural Secret
While English says 'gain experience' (singular), Germans almost always say 'Erfahrungen sammeln' (plural). It sounds more natural!
Don't 'Get' It
Avoid saying 'Erfahrung bekommen'. It sounds like the experience was delivered to you by mail. Use 'sammeln' to show you were active.
The Resume Power-Move
In German CVs, use 'Praktische Erfahrungen' as a heading. It sounds much more professional than just 'Jobs'.
Ejemplos
6Ich möchte in Ihrer Marketing-Abteilung neue Erfahrungen sammeln.
I would like to gain new experience in your marketing department.
This shows you are eager to learn and grow professionally.
Auf meiner Reise durch Asien habe ich viele wertvolle Erfahrungen gesammelt.
I gathered many valuable experiences on my trip through Asia.
Perfect for summarizing the impact of travel.
Der Kuchen ist verbrannt, aber hey, ich habe Erfahrungen gesammelt!
The cake is burnt, but hey, I gained some experience!
A lighthearted way to look at a small failure.
Als Praktikant kann man in dieser Firma tolle Erfahrungen sammeln.
As an intern, you can gain great experience at this company.
Describes the benefit of a junior position.
Es war eine schwere Zeit, aber ich habe wichtige Erfahrungen gesammelt.
It was a hard time, but I gathered important experiences.
Shows emotional maturity and growth from hardship.
Geh raus in die Welt und sammle deine eigenen Erfahrungen!
Go out into the world and gather your own experiences!
Classic advice for someone starting a new chapter.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
Ich möchte im Ausland ___ ___.
In German, we usually use the plural 'Erfahrungen' when talking about the general process of gaining experience.
Put the verb in the past tense (Perfekt).
Letztes Jahr habe ich viel Berufserfahrung ___.
The past participle of 'sammeln' is 'gesammelt', used here with 'habe'.
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Ayudas visuales
Formality of 'Erfahrungen sammeln'
Talking to friends about a hobby or a weird day.
Ich sammle gerade Erfahrungen mit Yoga.
The standard way to use it in most conversations.
Er möchte Erfahrungen in Berlin sammeln.
Resumes, cover letters, and job interviews.
Ich konnte bereits erste Erfahrungen im Projektmanagement sammeln.
Where to 'Collect' Experience
At a new job
Berufserfahrung sammeln
While traveling
Reiseerfahrungen sammeln
In daily life
Lebenserfahrung sammeln
Trying something new
Erste Erfahrungen sammeln
Banco de ejercicios
2 ejerciciosIch möchte im Ausland ___ ___.
In German, we usually use the plural 'Erfahrungen' when talking about the general process of gaining experience.
Letztes Jahr habe ich viel Berufserfahrung ___.
The past participle of 'sammeln' is 'gesammelt', used here with 'habe'.
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasBoth are possible, but the plural Erfahrungen sammeln is much more common when talking about the general process of learning.
Yes, it is very appropriate for professional contexts like Ich möchte in Ihrer Firma Erfahrungen sammeln.
Erfahrung is the knowledge you keep, while Erlebnis is a specific event or adventure you lived through.
Yes, like Briefmarken sammeln (collecting stamps), but with experience, it means gathering wisdom over time.
Not really, but you can use it ironically when something goes wrong, like Das war auch eine Erfahrung (That was... an experience).
Yes! You can say Ich sammle erste Erfahrungen mit der deutschen Sprache.
In that case, use verfügen über (formal) or simply haben. For example: Ich habe viel Erfahrung in diesem Bereich.
It is common for young people (interns, students), but anyone starting something new can use it.
You say wertvolle Erfahrungen sammeln. It’s a very common and positive collocation.
Yes, you can say schlechte Erfahrungen sammeln, though usually, we just say schlechte Erfahrungen machen (to make/have bad experiences).
Frases relacionadas
Erfahrung haben
Ein Erlebnis haben
Kenntnisse erwerben
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