En 15 secondes
- Means to bleed literally or suffer a heavy financial/emotional loss.
- Use 'für etwas bluten' to express paying for a mistake.
- Avoid using it for leaking pens or radiators; use 'auslaufen' instead.
Signification
Literally, it means to lose blood from a wound. Figuratively, it describes suffering a heavy loss or paying a high price for a mistake.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Cooking in the kitchen
Aua, mein Finger blutet!
Ouch, my finger is bleeding!
Discussing a parking ticket
Für diesen Parkplatz musste ich ordentlich bluten.
I really had to bleed for that parking spot.
A business meeting about losses
Das Unternehmen blutet finanziell seit dem letzten Quartal.
The company has been bleeding financially since the last quarter.
Contexte culturel
The 'bleeding taxpayer' is a recurring trope in German political cartoons, symbolizing the burden of the welfare state or bank bailouts. Similar to Germany, but 'bluten' might be replaced in very informal settings by 'blechen' or 'pecken' (to pay). Swiss German speakers use 'bluete' (dialect) similarly, often in the context of high prices in Swiss cities. In the gaming community, 'bluten' is used when a character loses health points over time (Bleed damage).
Use it for empathy
If you want to sound like a native speaker when someone tells you a sad story, use 'Mir blutet {das|n} Herz'. It's very authentic.
Don't overdo it
Using 'bluten' for small financial losses (like 2 Euros) makes you sound overly dramatic.
En 15 secondes
- Means to bleed literally or suffer a heavy financial/emotional loss.
- Use 'für etwas bluten' to express paying for a mistake.
- Avoid using it for leaking pens or radiators; use 'auslaufen' instead.
What It Means
At its core, bluten is the physical act of bleeding. You cut your finger? You bluten. But Germans love a bit of drama. They use it to describe financial pain too. If you pay a massive fine, you are 'bleeding'. It captures the feeling of a sacrifice that actually hurts.
How To Use It
Using it is straightforward because it's a regular verb. You can say Ich blute (I am bleeding). For the figurative sense, use the preposition für. For example, für seine Fehler bluten means to pay for one's mistakes. It sounds heavy, but it is very common in daily speech.
When To Use It
Use it literally when you have a paper cut or a nosebleed. Use it figuratively when talking about money or effort. If a project is draining your energy, you might say you are 'bleeding' for it. It works well when complaining about high taxes or expensive car repairs. It adds a touch of intensity to your frustration.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use bluten for colors or liquids. If your blue pen leaks in your pocket, it doesn't bluten. In that case, use auslaufen. Also, avoid using it for 'bleeding' a radiator. Germans use entlüften (to de-air) for that. Keep bluten for living things or metaphorical wallets.
Cultural Background
Germans have a deep respect for 'Herzblut' (heart's blood). This refers to passion and total commitment. If you do something with Herzblut, you've put your soul into it. The language reflects a culture that values hard work and serious investment. Even the pain of 'bleeding' financially is seen as a direct consequence of action.
Common Variations
Verbluten means to bleed to death or bleed out. It is much more final. Ausbluten is often used for a town losing its young people (brain drain). Then there is das Herz blutet, used when you are deeply saddened. It’s like saying 'my heart breaks' but with a more visceral, German twist.
Notes d'usage
The verb is neutral and safe for all levels of formality. Just remember the figurative 'für etwas bluten' is slightly more emotional/expressive than just saying 'bezahlen'.
Use it for empathy
If you want to sound like a native speaker when someone tells you a sad story, use 'Mir blutet {das|n} Herz'. It's very authentic.
Don't overdo it
Using 'bluten' for small financial losses (like 2 Euros) makes you sound overly dramatic.
Preposition check
Always use 'für' + Accusative when explaining the reason for the 'bleeding'.
Sarcasm check
Unlike English, this is rarely used sarcastically. If you say it, people will think you really care!
Exemples
6Aua, mein Finger blutet!
Ouch, my finger is bleeding!
A very common literal use after a small accident.
Für diesen Parkplatz musste ich ordentlich bluten.
I really had to bleed for that parking spot.
Refers to the high cost of the fine or fee.
Das Unternehmen blutet finanziell seit dem letzten Quartal.
The company has been bleeding financially since the last quarter.
Formal way to describe rapid loss of capital.
Mein Herz blutet, wenn ich an ihn denke.
My heart bleeds when I think of him.
Expresses deep emotional pain or sorrow.
Ich habe für diesen Sixpack geblutet!
I bled for these six-pack abs!
Hyperbolic use to show how hard the workout was.
Dafür wirst du noch bluten müssen.
You will have to pay (bleed) for that later.
A dramatic way to say there will be consequences.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'bluten' in the present tense.
Aua! Mein Finger ____.
'Mein Finger' is singular (it), so we use the third-person singular ending -et.
Which sentence uses the figurative meaning of 'bluten'?
Select the correct option:
This sentence refers to financial sacrifice, not physical blood loss.
Complete the dialogue with the correct idiom.
A: Hast du die armen Hunde im Tierheim gesehen? B: Ja, ____.
'Mir blutet das Herz' is the standard idiom for expressing deep sympathy.
Match the sentence to the context.
Sentence: 'Die Steuerzahler müssen für die Krise bluten.'
This is a common way to describe citizens paying for large-scale economic mistakes.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Bluten vs. Blechen
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesAua! Mein Finger ____.
'Mein Finger' is singular (it), so we use the third-person singular ending -et.
Select the correct option:
This sentence refers to financial sacrifice, not physical blood loss.
A: Hast du die armen Hunde im Tierheim gesehen? B: Ja, ____.
'Mir blutet das Herz' is the standard idiom for expressing deep sympathy.
Sentence: 'Die Steuerzahler müssen für die Krise bluten.'
This is a common way to describe citizens paying for large-scale economic mistakes.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsIt is a weak (regular) verb: bluten, blutete, hat geblutet.
No, that sounds like a literal translation from English. Say 'Ich muss finanziell bluten' or 'Das kostet mich viel Geld'.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also in a respectful conversation with a colleague.
'Bluten' is the general act of bleeding. 'Verbluten' means to die from losing too much blood.
Yes, but it's very dramatic. It implies the work was so hard it felt like a physical sacrifice.
The German equivalent is 'jemanden ausbluten lassen' or 'jemanden schröpfen'.
Yes, often to describe a team suffering because of a penalty or a bad tactical decision.
No, it can be literal (blood), financial (money), or emotional (sadness).
The Accusative case. Example: 'für {den|m} Fehler'.
Yes, {das|n} Bluten (the act of bleeding) or {die|f} Blutung (the medical condition/hemorrhage).
Yes, 'ein blutendes Herz' is a common poetic image for a broken or suffering heart.
Very common, especially regarding taxes, economy, and sports.
It is 'blutete'.
Yes, but 'Mir blutet das Herz' is the more idiomatic, native-sounding version.
Expressions liées
ausbluten
specialized formTo bleed dry or drain completely.
verbluten
specialized formTo bleed to death.
blechen
synonymTo pay up (slang).
Lehrgeld zahlen
similarTo learn the hard way.
Blut und Wasser schwitzen
similarTo be extremely anxious.
