um...herum 30秒で
- Used to describe physical movement in a circle around an object.
- Requires the Accusative case for the noun placed in the middle.
- Can mean 'approximately' when used with time or numbers.
- Often used metaphorically to mean 'avoiding' or 'bypassing' a topic or problem.
The German circumposition um...herum is a fascinating spatial and conceptual tool used to describe movement or positioning that encircles an object. Unlike the simple preposition 'um', which can sometimes imply a direct surrounding or even a specific time, 'um...herum' emphasizes the complete perimeter or the act of bypassing something by going along its edges. In a literal sense, it describes a circular path. For instance, if you walk around a house to find the back door, you are moving um das Haus herum. This structure is split: the 'um' precedes the noun phrase (which must be in the accusative case), and the 'herum' follows it, acting as a directional anchor that completes the thought of 'aroundness'.
- Spatial Dimension
- Refers to physical movement in a circle or perimeter.
- Approximate Time
- Can be used to indicate 'somewhere around' a specific time, though 'um' is more common for exact times.
- Metaphorical Avoidance
- Used in phrases like 'um den heißen Brei herumreden' (to beat around the bush).
"Wir spazieren um den See herum, um die frische Luft zu genießen."
Historically, the addition of 'herum' reinforces the directional movement. While 'um' alone can mean 'at' (for time) or 'around' (statically), 'herum' adds a dynamic layer. It suggests a trajectory. If you say 'Die Kinder sitzen um den Tisch', they are just sitting there. If you say 'Die Kinder laufen um den Tisch herum', they are actively orbiting it. This distinction is crucial for B1 learners who are moving from simple descriptions to more nuanced spatial reporting. The accusative case is non-negotiable here; the movement 'around' implies a change in relative position or a directed path, which German grammar maps to the accusative.
Das Auto fährt um das Hindernis herum.
Sie bauten einen Zaun um den Garten herum.
Wir müssen um die Baustelle herum fahren.
- Grammar Tip
- Always check if the noun is masculine (den), feminine (die), neuter (das), or plural (die) before placing it between 'um' and 'herum'.
Using um...herum correctly requires understanding the 'sandwich' structure of German circumpositions. You start with 'um', place your object in the Accusative case, and then close the phrase with 'herum'. This creates a clear boundary for the object being circumnavigated. For example, 'um den Baum herum'. Here, 'den Baum' is masculine accusative. If you were to use a feminine noun, it would be 'um die Kirche herum'. The placement of 'herum' at the end is vital because it signals to the listener that the movement is a complete or partial bypass rather than just a location.
In terms of sentence structure, this phrase usually functions as an adverbial of place. It can appear at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis (Um den Park herum gibt es viele Cafés) or in the middle (Ich bin gestern um den Park herum gelaufen). When used with verbs of motion like 'gehen', 'fahren', 'laufen', or 'fliegen', it provides a specific path. However, it is also used with verbs of 'placing' or 'existing', such as 'bauen' (to build) or 'sein' (to be), to describe a perimeter. 'Die Mauer verläuft um die Stadt herum' (The wall runs around the city).
One advanced usage involves time. While 'um 5 Uhr' means exactly at 5:00, 'um 5 Uhr herum' means 'around 5:00' (approximately). This is a very common way to express flexibility in schedules. 'Wir treffen uns um die Mittagszeit herum' suggests a window of time rather than a strict appointment. This versatility makes 'um...herum' a high-frequency tool in both physical and abstract contexts. Remember that 'herum' can also stand alone as an adverb meaning 'around' or 'over' (in the sense of time passing: 'Die Zeit ist herum'), but as a circumposition, it always needs its partner 'um'.
You will encounter um...herum in a variety of everyday scenarios. In navigation, GPS systems often use it: 'Fahren Sie um den Kreisverkehr herum' (Drive around the roundabout). In daily conversation, people use it to describe their surroundings or their plans. If someone is giving you directions to their house, they might say, 'Du musst um die große Kirche herumfahren, dann siehst du mein Haus.' It is also extremely common in news reports when discussing cordoned-off areas: 'Die Polizei sperrte das Gebiet um den Tatort herum ab' (The police cordoned off the area around the crime scene).
In the workplace, you might hear it regarding project management or problem-solving. 'Wir müssen einen Weg um dieses Problem herum finden' (We need to find a way around this problem). This metaphorical use is just as common as the physical one. In literature and storytelling, it sets the scene: 'Die Wölfe schlichen um das Lagerfeuer herum.' The repetitive 'um...herum' creates a sense of tension and enclosure. Even in weather reports, you might hear about 'Tiefdruckgebiete, die um die Region herumziehen' (low-pressure areas moving around the region).
Children's games are another prime location for this phrase. 'Fangenspielen um das Klettergerüst herum' (playing tag around the climbing frame). Because it is so descriptive of movement, it is one of the first complex spatial structures German children learn. In academic or technical German, it describes orbits in physics ('Die Erde dreht sich um die Sonne herum') or biological structures ('Die Membran um die Zelle herum'). Essentially, anywhere there is a center and a perimeter, 'um...herum' is the linguistic bridge used to describe that relationship.
The most frequent mistake learners make is using the Dative case instead of the Accusative. Because 'um' is an accusative-only preposition, the noun following it must be accusative, even if 'herum' is added at the end. For example, saying 'um dem Haus herum' is incorrect; it must be 'um das Haus herum'. Another common error is forgetting the 'herum' entirely when the speaker wants to emphasize the path. While 'um das Haus' is grammatically correct, it can sometimes feel incomplete or static depending on the verb used.
Another pitfall is the confusion between 'um...herum' and 'gegen'. While both can mean 'around' in a temporal sense, 'um...herum' implies a range (e.g., 5:55 to 6:05), whereas 'gegen' usually implies 'shortly before' or 'approaching' (e.g., 5:45 to 6:00). Learners also often struggle with the placement of 'herum' in sentences with separable verbs or complex word orders. The 'herum' should stay at the end of the prepositional phrase, not necessarily at the end of the entire sentence, although in simple sentences, these positions often coincide.
Finally, learners sometimes confuse 'herum' with 'hin' or 'her'. Remember that 'herum' specifically denotes a circular or bypassing motion. If you are moving towards something, you use 'auf...zu'. If you are moving through something, you use 'durch'. Using 'um...herum' when you actually mean 'past' (an...vorbei) is a nuance that takes time to master. For instance, 'Ich gehe am Supermarkt vorbei' (I walk past the supermarket) vs. 'Ich gehe um den Supermarkt herum' (I walk all the way around the supermarket). The latter implies a much longer path!
Several words share semantic space with um...herum. The most obvious is the simple preposition um. As mentioned, 'um' is often used for exact times or simple surroundings without the emphasis on the 'path'. Then there is ringsherum or rundherum. These are even more emphatic versions of 'around', often implying 'all around' or 'on all sides'. For example, 'Überall ringsherum war Wald' (All around was forest). These are often used as adverbs rather than circumpositions, though they can function similarly.
Another related term is umher. While 'um...herum' implies a specific object being circled, 'umher' (often used with verbs like 'laufen' or 'irren') means 'around' in a directionless, wandering sense. 'Er lief im Zimmer umher' means he was walking around aimlessly inside the room, not around a specific piece of furniture. Understanding the difference between the 'targeted' circle of 'um...herum' and the 'aimless' movement of 'umher' is a key distinction for upper-intermediate learners.
In a temporal sense, etwa or circa are synonyms for the 'around' meaning of 'um...herum'. However, 'um...herum' is more colloquial and common in spoken German. For spatial bypassing, umgehen (to bypass/circumvent) is the verbal equivalent. Instead of saying 'Wir sind um die Pfütze herumgegangen', one could say 'Wir haben die Pfütze umgangen'. The latter is more formal and often used in figurative contexts, like 'das Gesetz umgehen' (to bypass the law).
How Formal Is It?
発音ガイド
難易度
知っておくべき文法
Accusative case endings
Circumpositional structures
Separable prefix verbs
Adverbial placement
Temporal prepositions
レベル別の例文
Das Kind läuft um den Tisch herum.
The child runs around the table.
Accusative: den Tisch
Wir gehen um das Haus herum.
We walk around the house.
Accusative: das Haus
Die Katze spielt um den Baum herum.
The cat plays around the tree.
Accusative: den Baum
Blumen wachsen um den Brunnen herum.
Flowers grow around the fountain.
Accusative: den Brunnen
Fahr um das Auto herum!
Drive around the car!
Imperative + Accusative
Ein Zaun ist um den Park herum.
A fence is around the park.
Static use with 'sein'
Wir sitzen um das Feuer herum.
We are sitting around the fire.
Accusative: das Feuer
Vögel fliegen um den Turm herum.
Birds fly around the tower.
Accusative: den Turm
Ich treffe dich um 14 Uhr herum.
I'll meet you around 2 PM.
Temporal use (approximate)
Gehen Sie um die Ecke herum.
Go around the corner.
Giving directions
Wir sind um den See herum gewandert.
We hiked around the lake.
Perfect tense
Die Kinder laufen um die Schule herum.
The children run around the school.
Accusative: die Schule
Stellen Sie die Stühle um den Tisch herum.
Place the chairs around the table.
Verb of placement + Accusative
Es gibt einen Weg um den Berg herum.
There is a path around the mountain.
Existence + Path
Wir fahren um die Baustelle herum.
We drive around the construction site.
Practical navigation
Sie trägt eine Kette um den Hals herum.
She wears a necklace around her neck.
Accusative: den Hals
Rede nicht um den heißen Brei herum!
Don't beat around the bush!
Idiomatic expression
Wir müssen eine Lösung um dieses Problem herum finden.
We need to find a solution around this problem.
Metaphorical use
Um die Weihnachtszeit herum ist es sehr voll.
Around Christmas time, it is very crowded.
Temporal range
Die Polizei hat Absperrband um den Bereich herum gezogen.
The police put police tape around the area.
Describing a perimeter
Er schlich leise um das Zelt herum.
He crept quietly around the tent.
Nuanced movement
Die Planeten bewegen sich um die Sonne herum.
The planets move around the sun.
Scientific fact
Wir sind um die ganze Stadt herumgefahren.
We drove all around the city.
Separable verb usage
Um das Schloss herum gibt es einen tiefen Graben.
There is a deep moat around the castle.
Word order for emphasis
Man kann die neuen Regeln nicht einfach umgehen oder um sie herum arbeiten.
One cannot simply bypass the new rules or work around them.
Abstract bypass
Die Diskussion drehte sich ständig um das gleiche Thema herum.
The discussion kept revolving around the same topic.
Metaphorical 'revolving'
Um die Jahrhundertwende herum gab es viele Erfindungen.
Around the turn of the century, there were many inventions.
Historical time reference
Er baute seine Argumentation geschickt um die Fakten herum auf.
He skillfully built his argument around the facts.
Structuring abstract concepts
Die Atmosphäre um den Planeten herum ist sehr dünn.
The atmosphere around the planet is very thin.
Scientific description
Wir müssen um die rechtlichen Hürden herum navigieren.
We must navigate around the legal hurdles.
Professional jargon
Es herrschte eine seltsame Stimmung um ihn herum.
There was a strange mood around him.
Abstract surroundings
Sie wickelte den Schal mehrmals um ihren Kopf herum.
She wrapped the scarf several times around her head.
Repeated action
Die Erzählung ist lose um eine historische Begebenheit herum konstruiert.
The narrative is loosely constructed around a historical event.
Literary analysis
Um die Kernfrage herum entwickelten sich hitzige Debatten.
Heated debates developed around the core question.
Abstract center
Die Investoren versuchten, die Steuergesetze um das Projekt herum zu biegen.
The investors tried to bend the tax laws around the project.
Figurative manipulation
In der Quantenphysik verhalten sich Teilchen um den Kern herum oft unvorhersehbar.
In quantum physics, particles around the nucleus often behave unpredictably.
Technical precision
Die Aura um die Künstlerin herum war fast greifbar.
The aura around the artist was almost palpable.
Poetic description
Man muss die Software-Architektur um die Hardware-Einschränkungen herum entwerfen.
One must design the software architecture around the hardware limitations.
Technical design
Die Stadtmauer wurde strategisch um die Hügelkuppe herum angelegt.
The city wall was strategically laid out around the hilltop.
Strategic description
Um die Mittagsstunde herum flaut der Wind meistens ab.
Around the noon hour, the wind usually dies down.
Meteorological observation
Das gesamte philosophische System ist um den Begriff des Seins herum konzipiert.
The entire philosophical system is conceived around the concept of being.
Philosophical depth
Die diplomatischen Bemühungen gruppierten sich um den Friedensplan herum.
Diplomatic efforts clustered around the peace plan.
Political nuance
Es bedarf einer gewissen Raffinesse, um die bürokratischen Klippen herumzuschiffen.
It requires a certain sophistication to navigate around the bureaucratic cliffs.
Metaphorical sophistication
Die Lyrik jener Epoche kreist oft um das Motiv der Vergänglichkeit herum.
The poetry of that era often circles around the motif of transience.
Literary criticism
Um die Jahrtausendwende herum kulminierten diese gesellschaftlichen Spannungen.
Around the turn of the millennium, these social tensions culminated.
Historical synthesis
Die Orchestrierung wurde meisterhaft um die Solostimme herum gewebt.
The orchestration was masterfully woven around the solo voice.
Artistic metaphor
In seinem Spätwerk bricht der Autor mit der linearen Struktur um das Ich herum.
In his late work, the author breaks with the linear structure around the self.
Advanced literary theory
Die ökonomische Theorie baut auf Annahmen um das rationale Handeln herum auf.
Economic theory builds on assumptions around rational action.
Academic foundation
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
よく混同される語
Less emphatic, often used for exact time or static position.
Temporal 'around' but usually means 'approaching' or 'shortly before'.
Means wandering aimlessly, not around a specific object.
慣用句と表現
間違えやすい
文型パターン
使い方
Implies a path or perimeter.
Implies approximation.
Implies avoidance or structuring.
- Using Dative: 'um dem Tisch herum' (Wrong) -> 'um den Tisch herum' (Right)
- Forgetting 'herum' when movement is implied: 'Wir laufen um den See' (Okay, but 'um den See herum' is better for the path).
- Confusing with 'umher': 'Er läuft um den Tisch umher' (Incorrect usage).
- Wrong word order: 'Wir gehen herum um den See' (Wrong).
- Using for exact time: 'Das Meeting ist um 9 Uhr herum' (This means 'around 9', not exactly 9).
ヒント
Case Check
Always ensure the noun is accusative. Masculine nouns change from 'der' to 'den'.
Casual 'Rum'
Use 'rum' instead of 'herum' in casual conversations to sound like a native speaker.
Precision
Use 'um...herum' when you want to emphasize that something is being bypassed or completely surrounded.
Idiom Alert
Learn 'um den heißen Brei herumreden'—it's a very common B1-level idiom.
Split Search
When you hear 'um', wait for a potential 'herum' at the end of the phrase to get the full meaning.
Spatial Awareness
Use it to describe your commute or a walk in the park to practice spatial German.
Flexibility
Use it for appointments if you aren't sure you can make it at the exact minute.
Abstract Use
Apply it to problems or tasks: 'Wir arbeiten um das Problem herum'.
Picture It
Imagine a circle being drawn around an object; that circle is 'um...herum'.
Contrast
Compare it with 'durch' (through) to remember that 'um...herum' stays on the outside.
暗記しよう
語源
文化的な背景
Germans use 'um...herum' frequently in hiking and driving directions.
'Um den heißen Brei herumreden' refers to a cat circling hot porridge, afraid to eat it.
実生活で練習する
実際の使用場面
会話のきっかけ
"Was gibt es Interessantes um dein Haus herum?"
"Bist du schon mal um die ganze Welt herum gereist?"
"Wann triffst du dich normalerweise mit Freunden? Um wie viel Uhr herum?"
"Musstest du schon mal um ein großes Problem herumplanen?"
"Was wächst in deinem Garten um die Bäume herum?"
日記のテーマ
Beschreibe einen Spaziergang um deinen Lieblingssee herum.
Was passiert in deiner Stadt um die Weihnachtszeit herum?
Schreibe über eine Situation, in der jemand um den heißen Brei herumgeredet hat.
Wie sieht die Natur um deinen Wohnort herum aus?
Planst du deine Termine genau oder eher 'um eine bestimmte Zeit herum'?
よくある質問
10 問No, 'um' can stand alone, but 'herum' adds emphasis to the movement or the perimeter. In many spatial contexts, it sounds more natural.
It always takes the Accusative case because of the preposition 'um'.
Yes, it means 'approximately' or 'around' a certain time, e.g., 'um 5 Uhr herum'.
'Um' is more direct and can be static; 'um...herum' is more descriptive of the path or the area surrounding an object.
Yes, in spoken German, it is very frequently shortened to 'rum'.
It goes immediately after the noun phrase that follows 'um'.
It is neutral and can be used in all registers, though 'rum' is informal.
Yes, e.g., 'Alle standen um ihn herum' (Everyone stood around him).
Yes, e.g., 'um die Bäume herum' (around the trees).
No, it is a circumposition, but 'herum' can also be a prefix in separable verbs like 'herumgehen'.
自分をテスト 95 問
/ 95 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The circumposition 'um...herum' is the standard way in German to express 'around' with an emphasis on the path or perimeter. It creates a linguistic 'sandwich' that requires the accusative case and is essential for clear spatial and temporal descriptions.
- Used to describe physical movement in a circle around an object.
- Requires the Accusative case for the noun placed in the middle.
- Can mean 'approximately' when used with time or numbers.
- Often used metaphorically to mean 'avoiding' or 'bypassing' a topic or problem.
Case Check
Always ensure the noun is accusative. Masculine nouns change from 'der' to 'den'.
Casual 'Rum'
Use 'rum' instead of 'herum' in casual conversations to sound like a native speaker.
Precision
Use 'um...herum' when you want to emphasize that something is being bypassed or completely surrounded.
Idiom Alert
Learn 'um den heißen Brei herumreden'—it's a very common B1-level idiom.
関連コンテンツ
generalの関連語
ab
A1〜から（時間・場所の起点）。「明日から休みです。」 (Ab morgen habe ich frei.)
abends
A2晩に / 毎晩。 '晩に本を読みます。'
aber
A1「aber」は英語の「but」にあたり、「しかし」や「でも」という意味です。
abgelegen
B1remote
ablehnen
A2申し出や招待を断る。彼はその申し出を断った。
abschließen
A2鍵をかける。卒業する、または契約を結ぶ（完了する）。
abseits
A2abseitsは、主要な場所や普段通る道から離れたところにあることを意味します。
acht
A1数字の8（はち）。
Achte
A18番目（序数）。
achten
A2（aufを伴って）〜に注意を払う、または（他動詞として）〜を尊敬する。
