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B1 verb #6,000 پرکاربردترین 11 دقیقه مطالعه

verzweifeln

رتبه 6,000

تمرین کن مثال‌ها نکات و راهنمایی‌ها verzweifeln در ۳۰ ثانیه

توضیح verzweifeln in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'verzweifeln' is quite advanced, but you might encounter its adjective form 'verzweifelt' (desperate). Imagine you are very, very sad because you lost something important, like your passport or your dog. You might say 'Ich bin traurig' (I am sad). But if it is much worse, you are 'verzweifelt'. The verb 'verzweifeln' means the action of losing all hope. For a beginner, think of it as 'super-sad' or 'no hope'. You don't need to use it in complex sentences yet. Just remember that it comes from 'Zweifel' (doubt). If you have too many doubts and no solutions, you 'verzweifeln'. In simple German: 'Ich habe keine Hoffnung mehr. Ich verzweifle.' It is important to know that Germans use this word even for small things, like when the bus is late again. It sounds very dramatic! So, if you see someone looking very stressed with their hands on their head, they might be 'verzweifelt'. Don't worry about the grammar too much now, just recognize the feeling of 'total frustration'.

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At the A2 level, you can start to use 'verzweifeln' to express strong frustration. You should learn the basic conjugation: 'ich verzweifle', 'du verzweifelst', 'er verzweifelt'. A very useful phrase for A2 learners is 'Ich verzweifle an...' (I am despairing at...). You can use this when you are learning German grammar! For example: 'Ich verzweifle an der Grammatik.' This means the grammar is so hard that you feel like you will never learn it. Remember that in the past, we use 'sein': 'Ich bin verzweifelt.' This is like 'I was desperate'. You might hear this in stories or movies. It is a 'strong' word, so use it when you really feel overwhelmed. If you are just a little bit annoyed, use 'sich ärgern'. If you feel like crying because something is too difficult, use 'verzweifeln'. Also, note the spelling: it has 'ei' like in 'nein' or 'mein'. The 'ver-' at the beginning is a prefix you will see in many German verbs. It often means something is changing or going wrong. Here, 'doubt' (Zweifel) is going 'wrong' into 'despair'.

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At the B1 level, 'verzweifeln' becomes a core part of your emotional vocabulary. You should be able to use it with the preposition 'an' and the dative case correctly. For instance, 'Er verzweifelt an seiner Arbeit' (He is despairing of his work). You should also understand that 'verzweifeln' is an intransitive verb that uses 'sein' in the perfect tense because it describes a change of emotional state. This is a common B1 grammar topic. You will see this word in news reports about difficult social issues or in literature. It's also common in the workplace when people talk about 'Verzweiflungstaten' (acts of desperation). You should be able to distinguish between 'zweifeln' (to doubt something's truth) and 'verzweifeln' (to lose hope). For example: 'Ich zweifle an seiner Ehrlichkeit' (I doubt his honesty) vs. 'Ich verzweifle an seiner Unehrlichkeit' (His dishonesty is making me lose hope). At this level, you can also start using the word in the subjunctive to express hypothetical situations: 'Ich würde verzweifeln, wenn ich meinen Job verlieren würde' (I would despair if I lost my job).

At the B2 level, you should master the nuances of 'verzweifeln'. You should know that it can be used both for existential despair and for hyperbolic everyday frustration. You should be familiar with related nouns like 'die Verzweiflung' and common expressions like 'jemanden zur Verzweiflung bringen' (to drive someone to despair). At this level, you should also be comfortable with the Präteritum (past tense) forms: 'er verzweifelte'. In professional contexts, you might use it to describe a project that is failing despite all efforts: 'Wir verzweifeln langsam an den technischen Problemen.' You should also recognize synonyms like 'verzagen' (to lose heart) and understand that 'verzweifeln' is much stronger. When writing essays, 'verzweifeln' is a great word to describe the motivations of characters in books or historical figures. You should also be aware of the adverbial use of the past participle: 'Sie suchte verzweifelt nach einer Lösung' (She searched desperately for a solution). This shows the intensity of the action. Pay attention to the fact that 'verzweifeln' is never reflexive, which is a common error for learners who compare it to 'sich freuen' or 'sich ärgern'.

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At the C1 level, 'verzweifeln' should be used with precision in both spoken and written German. You should understand its philosophical and literary weight. In German literature (e.g., Sturm und Drang or Existentialism), 'verzweifeln' is a central theme. You should be able to discuss the 'Existenzielle Verzweiflung' (existential despair) of a character in a complex text. You should also be able to use the verb in more abstract constructions, such as 'an der Welt verzweifeln' (to despair of the world). Your mastery of the 'an + Dative' construction should be perfect, and you should be able to use the verb in complex sentence structures, including participial phrases: 'An der Bürokratie verzweifelnd, gab er sein Vorhaben schließlich auf' (Despairing of the bureaucracy, he finally gave up his plan). You should also be familiar with idiomatic uses and the subtle difference between 'verzweifeln' and 'resignieren' (resigning oneself to a fate). While 'verzweifeln' is an active emotional struggle, 'resignieren' is the quiet acceptance after the struggle has ended. In high-level debates, 'verzweifeln' can be used to emphasize the gravity of a situation, such as the climate crisis or political instability.

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of 'verzweifeln' and its place in the German linguistic landscape. You can use it to evoke specific emotional atmospheres in creative writing or to analyze deep psychological states in academic discourse. You are aware of its etymological roots and how the 'ver-' prefix functions to create a sense of 'completion' or 'finality' of doubt. You can effortlessly switch between the hyperbolic, colloquial use of the word and its profound, tragic connotations. You are familiar with literary references, perhaps quoting Goethe's 'Werther' or Kafka's letters where despair is a recurring motif. You understand the stylistic difference between using the verb 'verzweifeln' and the noun 'Verzweiflung' in various registers. For instance, in a legal or highly formal context, you might use 'die Verzweiflung' to describe a state of mind, whereas in a passionate speech, the verb 'verzweifeln' might carry more rhetorical power. You also recognize archaic uses in older texts, such as 'verzweifeln ob' + Genitive, though you know not to use them in modern speech. Your use of 'verzweifeln' reflects a deep understanding of the 'German angst' and the cultural nuances of expressing profound hopelessness.

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تمرین کن مثال‌ها نکات و راهنمایی‌ها

verzweifeln در ۳۰ ثانیه

To lose all hope or feel extreme frustration in a difficult situation.
Always uses the auxiliary verb 'sein' in the perfect tense (ich bin verzweifelt).
Commonly paired with the preposition 'an' followed by the dative case.
Ranges from existential despair to everyday technical or bureaucratic frustration.

The German verb verzweifeln is a powerful emotional term that describes the state of losing all hope or feeling utterly overwhelmed by a situation. At its core, it is derived from the word Zweifel (doubt). While zweifeln simply means to have doubts about something, the prefix ver- intensifies this into a terminal state—where doubt has consumed everything, leaving no room for hope. English speakers often translate it as 'to despair,' but in everyday German, it is frequently used in less dramatic contexts, such as when one is frustrated by a difficult math problem or a malfunctioning computer. It is a verb of movement/change of state, which is why it uses the auxiliary verb sein in the perfect tense (ich bin verzweifelt).

Emotional Depth: Verzweifeln suggests a point of no return where the subject feels helpless. It is not just being 'sad'; it is the feeling that there is no solution left.

Ich verzweifle langsam an dieser komplizierten Anleitung.

In literary contexts, verzweifeln is the bread and butter of German Romanticism and existentialist philosophy. It captures the 'Weltschmerz' or world-weariness that characters feel when faced with the cruelty of fate. However, in a modern office, you might hear a colleague say, 'Ich verzweifle an dieser Software!' meaning they are incredibly frustrated. Understanding the range from existential crisis to technical frustration is key to mastering this word. It is almost always paired with the preposition an followed by the dative case to indicate the cause of the despair.

Contextual Usage: Used when a situation seems unsolvable, whether it is a global crisis or a tangled pair of shoelaces.

Man darf nie verzweifeln, auch wenn es dunkel aussieht.

Furthermore, the word often appears in the passive-like adjective form verzweifelt. When you say 'Ich bin verzweifelt', you are describing your current state of being. The verb itself, verzweifeln, focuses on the process of losing hope. If you are learning German, you might verzweifeln at the grammar rules, but don't worry—this is a natural part of the process. The word carries a certain weight; using it shows you understand the depth of German emotional expression. It is more intense than sich ärgern (to be annoyed) or traurig sein (to be sad).

Die Eltern verzweifelten fast vor Sorge um ihr Kind.

The 'Ver-' Prefix: In German, 'ver-' often indicates a completion or a negative deviation. Here, it turns 'doubt' into 'total loss of hope'.

Lass uns nicht verzweifeln, es gibt immer einen Ausweg.

Er verzweifelt an der Suche nach einer Wohnung.

Using verzweifeln correctly requires attention to its grammatical environment. As an intransitive verb, it does not take a direct object. Instead, you describe the cause of your despair using the preposition an followed by a noun in the dative case. For example, 'Sie verzweifelt an der Aufgabe' (She is despairing of the task). Note that the English 'despair of' translates directly to 'verzweifeln an'. If you want to say someone is 'driven to despair', you use the noun form: 'jemanden zur Verzweiflung bringen'.

Perfect Tense: The verb uses 'sein'. Example: 'Er ist an seinem Schicksal verzweifelt' (He despaired of his fate).

Ich bin an der Komplexität des Projekts verzweifelt.

In the present tense, the conjugation follows the standard pattern for '-eln' verbs, where the 'e' before the 'l' is often dropped in the first person singular: ich verzweifle (though verzweifele is also technically correct, it's less common). The other forms are: du verzweifelst, er verzweifelt, wir verzweifeln. When using it in the subjunctive (Konjunktiv II), which is common for expressing hypothetical despair, you would say: 'Ich würde verzweifeln, wenn...' (I would despair if...).

Reflexive Confusion: Unlike many German emotional verbs, 'verzweifeln' is NOT reflexive. Do not say 'ich verzweifle mich'.

Wir verzweifeln fast an der Hitze in diesem Sommer.

Another common structure is using the verb with fast (almost) to exaggerate frustration. 'Ich verzweifle fast!' is a very common exclamation when someone is struggling with a minor but persistent problem. In written German, you will often find it in the past tense (Präteritum): 'Er verzweifelte, als er die Nachricht hörte'. This adds a narrative weight to the despair. For learners at the B1 level, focusing on the 'an + Dativ' construction is the most important step toward fluency with this verb.

Manche Menschen verzweifeln an der Einsamkeit in Großstädten.

Imperative Use: Commonly used in the negative to encourage someone: 'Verzweifle nicht!' (Do not despair!).

Bitte verzweifle nicht an dieser kleinen Hürde.

Der Künstler verzweifelte an seiner eigenen Perfektion.

In real-life German-speaking environments, verzweifeln is more common than you might think. It isn't reserved only for Shakespearean tragedies. You will hear it in the news when reporters describe the situation of people in war zones or after natural disasters ('Die Menschen verzweifeln an der mangelnden Hilfe'). You will also hear it in very mundane settings. For instance, a student might say they are verzweifelt because they can't find their keys, or a parent might verzweifeln at the messy room of their teenager.

Everyday Hyperbole: Germans use this word to express high levels of frustration. It's like saying 'It's driving me crazy' or 'I'm at my wits' end'.

Ich verzweifle noch mit diesem Drucker!

In the workplace, verzweifeln is often used when discussing complex projects or bureaucratic hurdles. If a process is particularly convoluted, a colleague might sigh and say, 'Man könnte wirklich verzweifeln.' (One could truly despair). This is a common way to express collective frustration without blaming a specific person. It's also frequently used in sports commentary. When a player misses several easy shots, the commentator might say, 'Der Stürmer verzweifelt am gegnerischen Torwart' (The striker is despairing at the opponent's goalkeeper).

Pop Culture and Media: You'll find this word in song lyrics (especially in 'Neue Deutsche Härte' or pop ballads) and in dramatic TV series like 'Tatort'.

In dem Lied geht es um jemanden, der an der Liebe verzweifelt.

Social media also sees a lot of this word. On platforms like Twitter (X) or Reddit, German users might post a screenshot of a confusing government website with the caption 'Ich verzweifle...'. It acts as a signal for 'I need help' or 'Can you believe how stupid this is?'. In literature, from Goethe to Kafka, the word is used to explore the human condition. Kafka's characters often verzweifeln at the inscrutable nature of authority. Understanding this word gives you a window into the German soul—both its capacity for deep philosophical angst and its pragmatic frustration with daily life.

Die Fans verzweifeln an der schlechten Leistung ihrer Mannschaft.

Regional Nuances: While the word is standard German (Hochdeutsch), the way people express frustration might vary, but 'verzweifeln' remains the go-to verb everywhere.

Man sieht ihm an, dass er innerlich verzweifelt.

Lass uns eine Lösung finden, bevor alle verzweifeln.

The most common mistake English speakers make with verzweifeln is using the wrong auxiliary verb in the perfect tense. Because English says 'I have despaired,' learners often want to say *ich habe verzweifelt. However, in German, verbs that indicate a change of state or condition use sein. Therefore, the correct form is ich bin verzweifelt. This is similar to verbs like sterben (to die) or einschlafen (to fall asleep).

Preposition Errors: Learners often try to use 'über' (about) or 'von' (of). While 'über' is occasionally used in specific poetic contexts, 'an' + Dative is the standard and safest choice.

Falsch: Ich verzweifle von der Grammatik. Richtig: Ich verzweifle an der Grammatik.

Another mistake is confusing verzweifeln with zweifeln. While they share a root, their meanings are distinct. Zweifeln (usually with 'an' + Dative) means to have doubts about the truth or reliability of something. Verzweifeln means the doubt has reached a terminal point where hope is lost. If you say 'Ich zweifle an dir', you mean 'I doubt you'. If you say 'Ich verzweifle an dir', you mean 'You are making me lose all hope/driving me to despair'.

Confusion with Adjectives: Sometimes people use 'verzweifelt' (desperate) as an adverb in ways that sound unnatural. Use 'verzweifelt' for the state, but 'verzweifeln' for the action.

Er hat verzweifelt versucht, den Zug noch zu erreichen. (Adverbial use of the participle).

Be careful with the spelling of the conjugated forms. For verbs ending in '-eln', the first person singular 'ich verzweifle' drops the 'e' before the 'l'. Many students write *verzweifele, which is not wrong but looks slightly old-fashioned or overly formal. Also, ensure you don't treat it as a separable verb. The prefix 'ver-' is always inseparable. You never say *ich zweifle ver. Finally, don't confuse verzweifeln with versagen (to fail). You can fail without despairing, and you can despair without having failed yet.

Man darf versagen, aber man sollte nicht verzweifeln.

Case Confusion: Always use Dative after 'an'. 'Ich verzweifle an dem (am) Problem', not 'an das Problem'.

Sie verzweifelt an ihrem Schicksal.

Bitte verzweifle nicht an mir!

While verzweifeln is a very specific emotional verb, there are several alternatives depending on the nuance you want to convey. If you want to emphasize the loss of courage rather than total despair, verzagen is a great literary alternative. It sounds a bit more old-fashioned and is often used in the phrase 'nicht verzagen, [Name] fragen!' (don't lose heart, ask [Name]!). If the focus is on giving up, you might use aufgeben or kapitulieren.

verzweifeln vs. verzagen: Verzweifeln is deeper and more final. Verzagen is about losing courage or becoming disheartened.

Er verzagte angesichts der großen Aufgabe.

In more colloquial settings, when you are 'despairing' over something annoying, you might use 'durchdrehen' (to go crazy) or 'wahnsinnig werden' (to go insane). For example, 'Ich werde wahnsinnig mit diesem Lärm!' expresses a similar level of high-intensity frustration as 'Ich verzweifle an diesem Lärm', but is much more common in casual speech. Another synonym is 'resignieren', which means to give up hope in a more passive, quiet way—accepting a bad situation because you feel you can't change it.

verzweifeln vs. zweifeln: Zweifeln: 'I'm not sure if this is right.' Verzweifeln: 'This is impossible, I give up hope.'

Ich zweifle an seiner Geschichte, aber ich verzweifle nicht an ihm.

If you are looking for a noun-based alternative, you can use 'die Hoffnung verlieren' (to lose hope). This is a direct synonym for verzweifeln but feels slightly more descriptive. In formal writing, 'in Hoffnungslosigkeit versinken' (to sink into hopelessness) is a very dramatic way to express the same idea. When the despair is specifically about a lack of progress, 'stagnieren' might be used in a technical context, though it lacks the emotional weight. Understanding these synonyms allows you to adjust your tone from conversational frustration to poetic angst.

Anstatt zu verzweifeln, sollten wir neue Wege suchen.

Register Check: High: Verzweifeln, Verzagen. Neutral: Die Hoffnung verlieren. Low: Durchdrehen, Wahnsinnig werden.

Sie ist völlig am Boden zerstört (idiom for being devastated).

Wir verzweifeln nicht, wir kämpfen weiter.

چقدر رسمی است؟

نکته جالب

The root 'Zweifel' (doubt) comes from the number 'zwei' (two). Despair is literally the state of being 'in two minds' or 'torn apart' by conflict until hope is lost.

راهنمای تلفظ

UK /fɛɐ̯ˈtsvaɪ̯fl̩n/

US /fɛrˈtsvaɪfəln/

The stress is on the second syllable: ver-ZWEI-feln.

هم‌قافیه با

zweifeln bezweifeln einzustreifen reife schleifen reifen pfeifen greifen

خطاهای رایج

Pronouncing the 'v' like an English 'v' (it should be 'f').
Pronouncing the 'z' like an English 'z' (it should be 'ts').
Stress on the first syllable 'ver'.
Failing to vocalize the 'n' at the end correctly.
Treating 'ei' as 'ee'.

سطح دشواری

خواندن 3/5

Common in literature and news, easy to recognize.

نوشتن 4/5

Requires correct preposition (an) and case (dative).

صحبت کردن 4/5

Correct conjugation and auxiliary verb (sein) are tricky.

گوش دادن 3/5

Clearly pronounced, but context determines intensity.

بعداً چه یاد بگیریم؟

پیش‌نیازها

zweifeln die Hoffnung traurig verlieren an

بعداً یاد بگیرید

die Verzweiflung verzagen resignieren aufgeben bewältigen

پیشرفته

die Existenzangst der Weltschmerz die Ausweglosigkeit die Hoffnungslosigkeit kapitulieren

گرامر لازم

Verbs with 'sein' in the Perfect Tense

Ich bin verzweifelt. (Change of state).

Prepositional Objects with 'an'

Ich verzweifle an der (Dative) Situation.

The '-eln' verb conjugation

Ich verzweifle (not verzweifele).

Inseparable Prefix 'ver-'

Verzweifeln cannot be split: Ich verzweifle (not zweifle ver).

Substantivized Infinitives

Das Verzweifeln hilft uns nicht weiter.

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مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

Ich bin verzweifelt.

I am desperate.

Uses 'sein' as an auxiliary.

Er verzweifelt fast.

He is almost despairing.

Present tense singular.

Nicht verzweifeln!

Don't despair!

Imperative form (infinitive used as command).

Sie ist sehr verzweifelt.

She is very desperate.

Adjective use of the participle.

Wir verzweifeln heute.

We are despairing today.

Present tense plural.

Warum bist du verzweifelt?

Why are you desperate?

Question form with 'sein'.

Ich verzweifle an Mathe.

I am despairing at math.

Verb + 'an' + Dative.

Sie verzweifelt ohne Hilfe.

She despairs without help.

Simple present tense.

Ich verzweifle an den Hausaufgaben.

I'm despairing over the homework.

Dative plural: 'den Hausaufgaben'.

Bist du an der Prüfung verzweifelt?

Did you despair at the exam?

Perfect tense with 'sein'.

Er verzweifelt an seinem alten Auto.

He is despairing over his old car.

Possessive pronoun in dative: 'seinem'.

Wir verzweifeln an dem schlechten Wetter.

We are despairing at the bad weather.

Dative neuter: 'dem schlechten Wetter'.

Verzweifelt suchte sie ihren Schlüssel.

Desperately she searched for her key.

Adverbial use of the participle.

Ich verzweifle, wenn ich kein Internet habe.

I despair when I have no internet.

Conditional 'wenn' clause.

Man darf nicht an sich selbst verzweifeln.

One must not despair of oneself.

Reflexive pronoun 'sich' after 'an'.

Die Kinder verzweifeln an der Hitze.

The children are despairing in the heat.

Dative feminine: 'der Hitze'.

Viele Menschen verzweifeln an der Bürokratie.

Many people despair at the bureaucracy.

Prepositional object 'an der Bürokratie'.

Ich bin fast an dieser Aufgabe verzweifelt.

I almost despaired of this task.

Perfect tense with 'sein' and 'fast' for emphasis.

Sie verzweifelte, als sie die Nachricht erhielt.

She despaired when she received the news.

Präteritum (simple past) tense.

Verzweifle nicht, es gibt immer eine Lösung.

Don't despair, there is always a solution.

Imperative singular.

Er ist an der Ungerechtigkeit der Welt verzweifelt.

He despaired of the injustice of the world.

Genitive attribute 'der Welt'.

Wir verzweifeln an der Suche nach einer Wohnung.

We are despairing at the search for an apartment.

Nominalization 'der Suche'.

Manche Künstler verzweifeln an ihrem eigenen Werk.

Some artists despair at their own work.

Possessive in dative plural: 'ihrem'.

Ich würde verzweifeln, wenn du gehen würdest.

I would despair if you were to leave.

Konjunktiv II (subjunctive).

Die Politik lässt viele Bürger verzweifeln.

Politics makes many citizens despair.

Causative use with 'lassen'.

Er ist schier an der Komplexität verzweifelt.

He almost despaired at the complexity.

Adverb 'schier' (almost/purely).

Sie brachte ihn mit ihren Fragen zur Verzweiflung.

She drove him to despair with her questions.

Noun 'Verzweiflung' in a fixed expression.

Trotz aller Bemühungen verzweifelte das Team.

Despite all efforts, the team despaired.

Preposition 'trotz' with genitive.

Ich verzweifle an der Ignoranz mancher Leute.

I despair at the ignorance of some people.

Dative feminine 'der Ignoranz'.

In seiner Verzweiflung rief er die Polizei.

In his despair, he called the police.

Prepositional phrase 'In seiner Verzweiflung'.

Das ist ein Grund zum Verzweifeln.

That is a reason to despair.

Substantivized infinitive 'zum Verzweifeln'.

Er verzweifelt an der Endgültigkeit des Todes.

He despairs of the finality of death.

Dative feminine 'der Endgültigkeit'.

Angesichts der Klimakrise verzweifeln viele junge Menschen.

In view of the climate crisis, many young people are despairing.

Preposition 'angesichts' with genitive.

Er verzweifelt an der Unzulänglichkeit der Sprache.

He despairs of the inadequacy of language.

Abstract dative object.

Sie verzweifelte beinahe an der Sinnlosigkeit ihres Tuns.

She almost despaired of the pointlessness of her actions.

Adverb 'beinahe' (almost).

Die Philosophie lehrt uns, nicht zu verzweifeln.

Philosophy teaches us not to despair.

Infinitive with 'zu'.

Er ist an der Einsamkeit in der Großstadt verzweifelt.

He despaired of the loneliness in the big city.

Perfect tense with 'sein'.

Die Gefangenen verzweifelten an der Ungewissheit.

The prisoners despaired of the uncertainty.

Dative feminine 'der Ungewissheit'.

Man kann an der Welt verzweifeln, wenn man die Nachrichten sieht.

One can despair of the world when one sees the news.

Modal verb 'kann' with infinitive.

Sein verzweifelter Blick sprach Bände.

His desperate look spoke volumes.

Participle used as an attributive adjective.

Kafka lässt seine Protagonisten an der absurden Welt verzweifeln.

Kafka lets his protagonists despair of the absurd world.

Literary analysis context.

Es ist ein existentielles Verzweifeln an der Conditio Humana.

It is an existential despairing of the human condition.

Substantivized infinitive used in academic register.

Sie verzweifelte an der Unvereinbarkeit von Pflicht und Neigung.

She despaired of the incompatibility of duty and inclination.

Philosophical terminology.

Die Lyrik jener Epoche ist geprägt vom Verzweifeln am Dasein.

The poetry of that era is characterized by despairing of existence.

Passive construction with 'geprägt von'.

Er verzweifelte schlussendlich an der eigenen Hybris.

He finally despaired of his own hubris.

Greek loanword 'Hybris'.

Nietzsche thematisierte das Verzweifeln als Weg zur Erkenntnis.

Nietzsche themed despairing as a path to knowledge.

Academic verb 'thematisierte'.

Man sollte das Verzweifeln nicht als Schwäche missverstehen.

One should not misunderstand despairing as weakness.

Negative imperative with modal verb.

Die Menschheit scheint an der eigenen Gier zu verzweifeln.

Humanity seems to be despairing of its own greed.

Verb 'scheinen' with 'zu' + infinitive.

ترکیب‌های رایج

an einer Aufgabe verzweifeln

an der Welt verzweifeln

fast verzweifeln

an sich selbst verzweifeln

an der Bürokratie verzweifeln

jemanden verzweifeln lassen

an der Suche verzweifeln

an der Technik verzweifeln

an der Ungerechtigkeit verzweifeln

innerlich verzweifeln

عبارات رایج

Ich verzweifle noch!

— I'm about to lose it! Used when frustrated by a recurring problem.

Dieser Computer ist so langsam, ich verzweifle noch!

Man könnte verzweifeln.

— One could despair. Used to comment on a hopeless or ridiculous situation.

Wenn man die Nachrichten liest, könnte man verzweifeln.

Nicht verzweifeln!

— Don't lose hope! A common encouraging phrase.

Kopf hoch, nicht verzweifeln!

Zum Verzweifeln sein

— To be enough to drive one to despair. Describes a situation.

Das Wetter ist heute wirklich zum Verzweifeln.

An jemandem verzweifeln

— To despair of someone. Used when someone is being difficult.

Ich verzweifle noch an dir und deiner Unpünktlichkeit!

Fast am Verzweifeln sein

— To be on the verge of despair.

Ich war fast am Verzweifeln, bis ich die Lösung fand.

In Verzweiflung stürzen

— To plunge into despair. Very dramatic/literary.

Die Nachricht stürzte die ganze Familie in Verzweiflung.

Schiere Verzweiflung

— Sheer despair.

Es war ein Akt aus schierer Verzweiflung.

An den Umständen verzweifeln

— To despair of the circumstances.

Sie verzweifelten an den schwierigen Umständen ihrer Flucht.

Keinen Grund zum Verzweifeln haben

— To have no reason to despair.

Du hast doch keinen Grund zum Verzweifeln, alles wird gut.

اغلب اشتباه گرفته می‌شود با

verzweifeln vs zweifeln

Zweifeln means to doubt the truth; verzweifeln means to lose all hope.

verzweifeln vs versagen

Versagen means to fail; verzweifeln is the emotional reaction to failure or difficulty.

verzweifeln vs verzagen

Verzagen is to lose heart/courage; verzweifeln is deeper and more final.

اصطلاحات و عبارات

"Jemanden zur Verzweiflung bringen"

— To drive someone to despair or drive them crazy with frustration.

Diese Kinder bringen mich noch zur Verzweiflung!

informal/neutral

"Hände über dem Kopf zusammenschlagen"

— To throw one's hands up in despair/disbelief.

Als er das Chaos sah, schlug er die Hände über dem Kopf zusammen.

neutral

"Die Flinte ins Korn werfen"

— To throw in the towel; to give up out of despair.

Jetzt wirf doch nicht gleich die Flinte ins Korn!

informal

"Am Ende seiner Weisheit sein"

— To be at one's wit's end.

Ich bin mit diesem Problem am Ende meiner Weisheit.

neutral

"In Sack und Asche gehen"

— To be in a state of deep mourning or despair (biblical origin).

Er muss ja nicht gleich in Sack und Asche gehen.

literary

"Den Kopf hängen lassen"

— To mope or be discouraged.

Lass den Kopf nicht hängen, es wird schon wieder.

informal

"Ein Häufchen Elend sein"

— To be a 'little pile of misery'; to look utterly despaired.

Nach der Absage war er nur noch ein Häufchen Elend.

informal

"Alles schwarzsehen"

— To be pessimistic; to see everything in a negative light.

Du darfst nicht immer alles schwarzsehen.

neutral

"Sich die Haare raufen"

— To tear one's hair out in frustration/despair.

Ich könnte mir die Haare raufen bei so viel Dummheit!

informal

"Den Mut verlieren"

— To lose courage; a step before total despair.

Wir dürfen jetzt nicht den Mut verlieren.

neutral

به‌راحتی اشتباه گرفته می‌شود

verzweifeln vs zweifeln

They share the same root.

Zweifeln is intellectual doubt. Verzweifeln is emotional hopelessness. You can doubt a fact without despairing.

Ich zweifle an seiner Aussage. Ich verzweifle an seinem Verhalten.

verzweifeln vs verzagen

Similar meaning of losing heart.

Verzagen is often used in the sense of being discouraged or timid. Verzweifeln is more intense and existential.

Nur nicht verzagen! (Common idiom). Er verzweifelte völlig.

verzweifeln vs verzweifelt

It is the participle form but often acts as an adjective.

Verzweifeln is the action; verzweifelt is the state or how an action is performed.

Er verzweifelt (verb). Er ist verzweifelt (adjective).

verzweifeln vs aufgeben

Despair often leads to giving up.

Aufgeben is the external action of quitting. Verzweifeln is the internal emotional state.

Ich gebe auf. Ich verzweifle an der Aufgabe.

verzweifeln vs resignieren

Both involve a loss of hope.

Resignation is passive and often calm acceptance. Despair is active and emotionally painful.

Er hat resigniert und macht nichts mehr. Er verzweifelt und sucht einen Ausweg.

الگوهای جمله‌سازی

Ich verzweifle an [Dativ-Nomen].

Ich verzweifle an der Prüfung.

Ich bin an [Dativ-Nomen] verzweifelt.

Ich bin an dem Problem verzweifelt.

Nicht verzweifeln, [Satz]!

Nicht verzweifeln, wir helfen dir!

[Subjekt] lässt mich verzweifeln.

Deine Unpünktlichkeit lässt mich verzweifeln.

Es ist zum Verzweifeln!

Dieser Stau ist echt zum Verzweifeln!

Angesichts [Genitiv-Nomen] verzweifelte er.

Angesichts der Niederlage verzweifelte er.

Anstatt zu verzweifeln, [Satz].

Anstatt zu verzweifeln, suchte sie Hilfe.

Das [Substantiviertes Verb] an [Dativ] ist ein Thema...

Das Verzweifeln an der Gesellschaft ist ein Thema in diesem Buch.

خانواده کلمه

اسم‌ها

die Verzweiflung (despair)

der Verzweifelte (the desperate person)

die Verzweiflungstat (act of desperation)

فعل‌ها

zweifeln (to doubt)

bezweifeln (to cast doubt upon)

verzweifeln (to despair)

صفت‌ها

verzweifelt (desperate)

verzweiflungsvoll (full of despair)

unverzweifelt (not despaired - rare)

مرتبط

der Zweifel (doubt)

zweifelhaft (doubtful)

zweifellos (doubtless)

die Hoffnungslosigkeit (hopelessness)

verzagt (disheartened)

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نحوه استفاده

frequency

Common in both spoken and written German.

اشتباهات رایج

Ich habe verzweifelt. → Ich bin verzweifelt.
Verzweifeln describes a change of state and therefore requires the auxiliary verb 'sein' in the perfect tense.
Ich verzweifle über die Grammatik. → Ich verzweifle an der Grammatik.
The correct preposition for 'verzweifeln' is 'an' followed by the dative case.
Ich verzweifle mich. → Ich verzweifle.
Verzweifeln is not a reflexive verb. You do not despair 'yourself' in German.
Ich zweifle an der Situation. → Ich verzweifle an der Situation.
If you mean you have no hope, use 'verzweifeln'. 'Zweifeln' just means you are uncertain.
Ich verzweifele. → Ich verzweifle.
While 'verzweifele' is technically correct, 'verzweifle' is the standard modern form for the first person singular.

نکات

Master the Perfect Tense

Always remember that 'verzweifeln' uses 'sein'. Think of it as 'falling' into despair—verbs of falling or changing state use 'sein'.

Zweifel vs. Verzweifeln

Doubt (Zweifel) is the seed; despair (Verzweiflung) is the overgrown weed. Use 'zweifeln' for uncertainty and 'verzweifeln' for hopelessness.

Hyperbolic Use

Don't be afraid to use 'Ich verzweifle noch!' when you are just very frustrated. It makes you sound more like a native speaker.

The -eln Rule

In the first person singular, 'ich verzweifle' is the standard form. The 'e' before the 'l' is dropped. This applies to all verbs ending in '-eln'.

Always 'an'

Memorize the pair 'verzweifeln an'. It will save you from making the common mistake of using 'über' or 'von'.

Literary Contexts

When reading German classics, 'verzweifeln' is a key word. It often signals a turning point in a character's journey.

Driving Despair

Learn 'jemanden zur Verzweiflung bringen'. It's a great way to talk about annoying siblings, slow computers, or difficult bosses.

The 'V' is an 'F'

Almost all German words starting with 'ver-' are pronounced with an 'f' sound. Practice saying 'fer-tsvy-feln'.

Visualizing Hope

Imagine hope as a candle. 'Verzweifeln' is the moment the candle goes out completely.

Verzweifeln vs. Resignieren

Use 'verzweifeln' for the painful emotion and 'resignieren' for the quiet act of giving up.

حفظ کنید

روش یادسپاری

Think of 'Ver-' as 'Forever' and 'Zweifel' as 'Doubt'. If you are in 'Forever Doubt', you are in despair (verzweifeln).

تداعی تصویری

Imagine someone sitting at a desk with two (zwei) paths that are both blocked, leading to a state of 'ver-zwei-feln'.

شبکه واژگان

Zweifel Hoffnung Angst Aufgeben Problem Lösung Gefühl Trauer

چالش

Write three sentences about something that makes you 'verzweifeln' (e.g., traffic, grammar, technology) using 'an + Dative'.

ریشه کلمه

Derived from the Middle High German word 'vertzwīvelen'. It is a combination of the prefix 'ver-' and the root 'zweifeln'.

معنای اصلی: To lose faith or hope; to fall into doubt.

Germanic

بافت فرهنگی

Be careful when using 'verzweifeln' regarding serious mental health issues; it is a strong emotional term.

English speakers often use 'frustrated' or 'at my wits' end' where Germans might use 'verzweifeln'. 'Despair' sounds very heavy in English, but 'verzweifeln' can be lighter in German.

Goethe's 'Die Leiden des jungen Werthers' (classic example of despair). Kafka's 'The Trial' (bureaucratic despair). The song 'Verzweifelt' by various German pop artists.

تمرین در زندگی واقعی

موقعیت‌های واقعی

School/University

an der Prüfung verzweifeln
an Mathe verzweifeln
an der Hausarbeit verzweifeln
fast verzweifeln

Technology

am Computer verzweifeln
an der Software verzweifeln
am Internet verzweifeln
an der Bedienungsanleitung verzweifeln

Politics/News

an der Lage verzweifeln
an der Bürokratie verzweifeln
an der Ungerechtigkeit verzweifeln
an der Zukunft verzweifeln

Personal Relationships

an seinem Partner verzweifeln
an den Kindern verzweifeln
an der Einsamkeit verzweifeln
an sich selbst verzweifeln

Sports

am Gegner verzweifeln
an der eigenen Leistung verzweifeln
an den Fans verzweifeln
an der Niederlage verzweifeln

شروع‌کننده‌های مکالمه

"Bist du schon mal an einer deutschen Grammatikregel verzweifelt?"

"Was lässt dich in deinem Alltag manchmal verzweifeln?"

"An welcher technischen Erfindung verzweifelst du am meisten?"

"Glaubst du, dass man an der modernen Welt verzweifeln muss?"

"Was tust du, wenn du an einer Aufgabe verzweifelst?"

موضوعات نگارش

Beschreibe eine Situation, in der du fast verzweifelt bist, aber dann doch eine Lösung gefunden hast.

Warum verzweifeln so viele Menschen an der Bürokratie? Reflektiere über deine eigenen Erfahrungen.

Kann Verzweiflung auch etwas Positives sein? Denke über den Satz 'Verzweiflung ist der erste Schritt zur Besserung' nach.

Schreibe über einen fiktiven Charakter, der an seinem Schicksal verzweifelt.

Welche Dinge in der Welt lassen dich heute verzweifeln und was gibt dir trotzdem Hoffnung?

سوالات متداول

10 سوال

No, 'verzweifeln' is not reflexive. You should never say 'ich verzweifle mich'. It is an intransitive verb that describes an emotional state or change of state.

You must use 'sein'. For example: 'Ich bin verzweifelt'. This is because 'verzweifeln' implies a change in your emotional state, and such verbs in German typically take 'sein'.

'Zweifeln' means to have doubts or to be uncertain about something (e.g., 'Ich zweifle an der Wahrheit'). 'Verzweifeln' means to lose all hope or to be completely overwhelmed (e.g., 'Ich verzweifle an der Situation').

Yes, Germans often use it hyperbolically. You can say 'Ich verzweifle an diesem Knoten!' (I'm despairing at this knot!) when you are just frustrated.

The most common and correct preposition is 'an' followed by the dative case. 'Ich verzweifle an der Bürokratie'.

You use the expression 'jemanden zur Verzweiflung bringen'. Here, the noun 'Verzweiflung' is used.

Not always. It is the past participle of the verb, so it is used in the perfect tense ('ich bin verzweifelt'), but it very often functions as an adjective ('ein verzweifelter Mann') or an adverb ('er suchte verzweifelt').

They are similar, but 'verzagen' is more literary and usually means to lose courage or become disheartened. 'Verzweifeln' is stronger and more common.

The most direct opposite is 'hoffen' (to hope) or 'zuversichtlich sein' (to be confident/optimistic).

While 'über' is occasionally used in poetic or older German, it is much better and more standard to use 'an' + Dative in modern German.

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