vertragen 30秒で
- Vertragen is a Dutch verb meaning 'to slow down' or 'to decelerate' in both physical and abstract contexts.
- It is the opposite of 'versnellen' and is derived from the adjective 'traag', meaning slow or sluggish.
- The verb can be transitive (to slow something down) or intransitive (to slow down oneself/itself).
- It is commonly used in traffic, business, and science to describe a reduction in pace or progress.
The Dutch verb vertragen is a fundamental word in the Dutch language, primarily used to describe the act of slowing down or reducing the speed of a process, a physical object, or an action. It is the direct opposite of versnellen (to accelerate). Understanding 'vertragen' requires looking at its root: the adjective traag, which means slow, sluggish, or inert. By adding the prefix ver-, the word transforms into a causative verb, essentially meaning 'to make slow' or 'to become slower'.
- Physical Motion
- In physics and daily transport, it refers to deceleration. When a train approaches a station, it must 'vertragen' to come to a safe halt. It is often used in traffic reports to describe vehicles losing speed due to congestion.
De automobilist moest plotseling vertragen vanwege de dichte mist op de snelweg.
- Process and Time
- Beyond physical movement, 'vertragen' applies to abstract concepts like time, progress, or biological rhythms. A bureaucratic process might 'vertragen' due to complex regulations, or a chemical reaction might be 'vertraagd' by a specific catalyst.
In a professional context, you will often hear this word in project management. If a team lead says, "Het project is vertraagd," they are indicating that the timeline has been pushed back. It is important to distinguish between the action of slowing down (vertragen) and the resulting delay (vertraging). While they are related, 'vertragen' is the verb describing the shift in pace. For example, a computer processor might vertragen when it gets too hot, leading to a frustrating user experience. In music, a conductor might ask the orchestra to vertragen (ritardando) to create a specific emotional effect before a finale.
Door de stakingen bij de post zal de bezorging van uw pakket aanzienlijk vertragen.
Finally, the word appears in social and economic discussions. Economists might talk about 'het vertragen van de inflatie' (the slowing of inflation), which is generally seen as a positive development. Conversely, 'het vertragen van de economische groei' (the slowing of economic growth) is often a cause for concern. Thus, the word is neutral in itself, but its connotations depend entirely on what exactly is being slowed down. Whether it is a heartbeat, a car, or a legal case, 'vertragen' captures the essence of losing momentum.
Using 'vertragen' correctly involves understanding its conjugation and its role as either a transitive or intransitive verb. As a regular weak verb, it follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -en. The stem is 'vertraag' (note the double 'a' to keep the long vowel sound). Because the stem ends in a 'g', which is not in 't kofschip, the past tense ends in -de.
- Transitive Usage
- When you use 'vertragen' transitively, you are the agent causing something else to slow down. For example: "De regen vertraagt het verkeer" (The rain slows down the traffic). Here, the rain is the subject acting upon the traffic.
De nieuwe wetgeving zal de woningbouw waarschijnlijk vertragen.
- Intransitive Usage
- In its intransitive form, the subject itself slows down. "De hartslag van de patiënt vertraagt" (The patient's heart rate is slowing down). No external force is explicitly mentioned as the direct object.
One of the nuances of 'vertragen' is its use in the passive voice. "Het project werd vertraagd door een tekort aan personeel" (The project was delayed/slowed down by a shortage of staff). In this case, the focus is on the object being affected. It is also common to see the past participle used as an adjective: "een vertraagde reactie" (a delayed reaction) or "een vertraagde film" (a slow-motion film).
We moeten onze pas vertragen als we de top van de berg veilig willen bereiken.
In imperative forms, you might hear a driving instructor say: "Vertraag nu!" (Slow down now!). In formal writing, 'vertragen' is often coupled with adverbs to indicate the degree of slowing, such as 'aanzienlijk vertragen' (to slow down significantly) or 'lichtelijk vertragen' (to slow down slightly). Understanding these patterns allows you to describe everything from a runner losing steam to a global economic downturn with precision.
In the Netherlands and Belgium, 'vertragen' is a word you will encounter daily, though often in specific contexts. One of the most common places is on the road. Traffic signs near schools or construction zones might not always use the word 'vertragen' explicitly (often they just show a speed limit), but GPS systems and traffic apps like Waze or Google Maps will frequently announce: "Het verkeer op uw route begint te vertragen." This immediate, practical application is vital for any traveler.
- Public Transport
- If you take the train (NS in the Netherlands, NMBS in Belgium), you will hear the noun 'vertraging' constantly. However, the verb 'vertragen' is used when explaining the cause: "Werkzaamheden aan het spoor vertragen de treinen tussen Utrecht en Amsterdam." It describes the active disruption of the schedule.
De trein moest vertragen omdat er dieren op het spoor waren gesignaleerd.
- The Workplace
- In office environments, 'vertragen' is used to discuss productivity or project timelines. A manager might say, "We moeten oppassen dat deze extra controle de procedure niet te veel vertraagt." It is a professional way to express concern about efficiency without being overly aggressive.
In the news, you will hear 'vertragen' in reports about the climate or the economy. For instance, scientists might discuss 'het vertragen van de Warme Golfstroom' (the slowing of the Gulf Stream). In sports commentary, especially cycling (a very popular sport in the Low Countries), a commentator might note that a rider is 'vertraagd' by a puncture or a fall, or that the peloton is 'vertraagd' because no one wants to lead the chase. In all these scenarios, 'vertragen' provides a clear description of a change in tempo.
Even for intermediate learners, 'vertragen' can be tricky because of its similarity to other words and its specific grammatical requirements. The most frequent error is confusing the verb 'vertragen' with the noun 'vertraging'. Learners often say "Ik heb een vertragen" instead of "Ik heb vertraging" (I have a delay). Remember: 'vertragen' is the action; 'vertraging' is the state or the result.
- Vertragen vs. Afremmen
- Another mistake is using 'vertragen' when 'afremmen' (to brake/slow down) is more appropriate. While 'vertragen' is general, 'afremmen' usually implies a more active, physical use of brakes or a deliberate effort to stop. You 'vertraagt' when you walk slower, but you 'remt af' when you approach a red light in a car.
Fout: Ik moet de auto vertragen voor het stoplicht. (Beter: afremmen)
- Vertragen vs. Wachten
- English speakers sometimes use 'vertragen' when they mean 'to wait' (wachten) or 'to delay/postpone' (uitstellen). If you are moving a meeting to next week, you are not 'vertragen' the meeting; you are 'uitstellen' (postponing) it. 'Vertragen' implies the meeting is happening but at a slower pace or the process leading to it is taking longer.
Lastly, pay attention to the auxiliary verb in the perfect tense. If you say "De groei is vertraagd," you are describing a state or an intransitive action (The growth has slowed). If you say "De overheid heeft de groei vertraagd," you are describing a transitive action where the government caused the slowing. Misusing 'hebben' and 'zijn' is a hallmark of B1-level learners, so mastering this distinction with 'vertragen' is a great way to improve your fluency.
Dutch offers several synonyms for 'vertragen', each with its own nuance. Choosing the right one depends on whether you are talking about physics, business, or emotions. Understanding these alternatives will make your Dutch sound more natural and precise.
- Afremmen
- This is the most common physical alternative. It literally means 'to brake'. Use this for vehicles, cyclists, or runners who are actively reducing their speed. It feels more intentional than 'vertragen'.
- Minderen
- Often used in the phrase 'vaart minderen' (to reduce speed/momentum). It is slightly more formal and often used in nautical or technical contexts.
- Temperen
- Used for abstract things like expectations, enthusiasm, or heat. You don't 'vertragen' your enthusiasm; you 'tempert' it. It means to moderate or tone down.
De centrale bank probeert de inflatie te temperen door de rente te verhogen.
In a bureaucratic or legal context, you might encounter 'stagneren' (to stagnate) or 'traineren' (to stall/delay deliberately). 'Traineren' has a negative connotation, suggesting someone is intentionally dragging their feet to cause a delay. 'Stagneren' is more passive, describing a situation where no progress is being made at all, which is a step further than just 'vertragen'.
For lifestyle contexts, 'onthaasten' is the trendy alternative. It means to consciously slow down your life to avoid stress. While 'vertragen' describes the speed reduction, 'onthaasten' describes the philosophy behind it. If you tell a Dutch person "Ik wil mijn leven vertragen," they will understand you, but if you say "Ik wil gaan onthaasten," you sound like you've been reading modern wellness magazines.
豆知識
The root of 'vertragen' is also related to the English word 'drag', which gives a physical sense of something being pulled slowly along the ground.
発音ガイド
- Pronouncing the 'v' as a hard 'f'.
- Making the 'aa' too short (sounding like 'trap').
- Pronouncing the 'g' like an English 'g' (as in 'goat') instead of the Dutch guttural 'g'.
- Stressing the first syllable 'ver-'.
- Forgetting to double the 'a' in the stem 'vertraag'.
レベル別の例文
De auto gaat vertragen.
The car is going to slow down.
Simple future with 'gaan'.
Ik vertraag mijn stap.
I slow my pace.
Present tense, first person.
De trein moet vertragen.
The train must slow down.
Modal verb 'moet' + infinitive.
Kun je een beetje vertragen?
Can you slow down a bit?
Question form with 'kun'.
De film gaat vertragen.
The movie is going to slow down.
Infinitive used with 'gaan'.
Wij vertragen voor de bocht.
We slow down for the curve.
Present tense, plural.
De muziek gaat vertragen.
The music is going to slow down.
Simple future.
Vertraag nu!
Slow down now!
Imperative form.
Het verkeer vertraagt door de regen.
The traffic is slowing down because of the rain.
Intransitive use.
De computer vertraagt als hij warm wordt.
The computer slows down when it gets hot.
Subordinate clause with 'als'.
De loper vertraagt aan het einde van de race.
The runner slows down at the end of the race.
Present tense.
Waarom vertraagt de trein hier?
Why is the train slowing down here?
Interrogative sentence.
Je moet vertragen bij een school.
You must slow down near a school.
Modal verb use.
De video vertraagt plotseling.
The video suddenly slows down.
Adverb 'plotseling' modifying the verb.
Wij vertragen ons tempo tijdens de wandeling.
We slow our pace during the walk.
Transitive use with 'tempo' as object.
De wind vertraagt de fietser.
The wind slows down the cyclist.
Transitive use.
De bureaucratie vertraagt de bouw van het nieuwe ziekenhuis.
Bureaucracy is slowing down the construction of the new hospital.
Transitive use with abstract subject.
Door de stakingen is de levering van de pakketten vertraagd.
Due to the strikes, the delivery of the packages has been delayed.
Passive/Perfect tense with 'is' (state).
We moeten het proces niet onnodig vertragen.
We should not slow down the process unnecessarily.
Infinitive with 'moeten' and negation.
De hartslag vertraagde tijdens zijn slaap.
The heart rate slowed down during his sleep.
Past tense (onvoltooid verleden tijd).
De nieuwe software vertraagt mijn hele systeem.
The new software slows down my entire system.
Transitive use.
Zij vertraagden hun pas om van het uitzicht te genieten.
They slowed their pace to enjoy the view.
Past tense plural.
De economische groei zal dit jaar waarschijnlijk vertragen.
Economic growth will likely slow down this year.
Future tense with 'zal'.
Heeft u het project opzettelijk vertraagd?
Did you intentionally slow down the project?
Perfect tense with 'heeft' (action).
De overheid probeert de inflatie te vertragen door de rente te verhogen.
The government is trying to slow down inflation by raising interest rates.
Infinitive construction with 'te'.
Een tekort aan grondstoffen heeft de productie aanzienlijk vertraagd.
A shortage of raw materials has significantly slowed down production.
Perfect tense with adverb 'aanzienlijk'.
De filmregisseur koos ervoor om de actiescène te vertragen voor een dramatisch effect.
The film director chose to slow down the action scene for a dramatic effect.
Transitive use in a complex sentence.
Naarmate de temperatuur daalt, vertragen de moleculen.
As the temperature drops, the molecules slow down.
Subordinate clause with 'naarmate'.
Slechte communicatie kan de voortgang van een team ernstig vertragen.
Poor communication can seriously slow down a team's progress.
Modal verb 'kan' + adverb + infinitive.
De loper voelde zijn krachten afnemen en zijn tempo vertragen.
The runner felt his strength fade and his pace slow down.
AcI construction (Accusativus cum Infinitivo) with 'voelde'.
Het medicijn is bedoeld om de verspreiding van het virus te vertragen.
The medicine is intended to slow down the spread of the virus.
Passive construction followed by 'om te' + infinitive.
De onderhandelingen werden vertraagd door politieke onenigheid.
The negotiations were slowed down by political disagreement.
Passive past tense.
De vergrijzing dreigt de economische dynamiek van het land te vertragen.
The aging population threatens to slow down the country's economic dynamism.
Verb 'dreigen' followed by 'te' + infinitive.
Men vermoedt dat de opwarming van de aarde de oceaanstromingen zal vertragen.
It is suspected that global warming will slow down ocean currents.
Complex sentence with 'dat' clause.
Door de procedurele fouten werd de rechtsgang onnodig vertraagd.
Due to procedural errors, the legal process was unnecessarily slowed down.
Passive voice with 'werd'.
De kunstenaar gebruikt vertraging als een middel om de kijker tot reflectie te dwingen.
The artist uses slowing down as a means to force the viewer into reflection.
Using the noun 'vertraging' in a philosophical context.
Een te hoge belastingdruk kan de bereidheid tot investeren vertragen.
Too high a tax burden can slow down the willingness to invest.
Abstract transitive use.
Zodra de crisis uitbrak, vertraagde de consumptie vrijwel onmiddellijk.
As soon as the crisis broke out, consumption slowed down almost immediately.
Past tense with 'zodra' clause.
De directie besloot de uitrol van de nieuwe strategie te vertragen om meer draagvlak te creëren.
The management decided to slow down the rollout of the new strategy to create more support.
Transitive use with 'besloot te'.
Het is essentieel om de achteruitgang van de biodiversiteit te vertragen.
It is essential to slow down the decline of biodiversity.
Impersonal 'het is' construction.
De inherente traagheid van het systeem vertraagt elke poging tot radicale hervorming.
The inherent inertia of the system slows down every attempt at radical reform.
Sophisticated subject 'inherente traagheid'.
In zijn laatste symfonie laat de componist het ritme geleidelijk vertragen tot een absolute stilte.
In his last symphony, the composer lets the rhythm gradually slow down to an absolute silence.
Causative 'laten' + infinitive.
De exponentiële groei van dataverkeer dreigt de globale netwerkinfrastructuur te vertragen.
The exponential growth of data traffic threatens to slow down the global network infrastructure.
Technical terminology 'exponentiële groei'.
Men tracht de cognitieve achteruitgang bij Alzheimerpatiënten te vertragen met nieuwe therapieën.
Efforts are being made to slow down cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients with new therapies.
Formal 'men tracht' construction.
De wisselwerking tussen vraag en aanbod kan de marktwerking tijdelijk vertragen.
The interaction between supply and demand can temporarily slow down market forces.
Economic terminology.
Door de filmbeelden te vertragen, worden details zichtbaar die anders aan het oog ontsnappen.
By slowing down the film footage, details become visible that would otherwise escape the eye.
Gerund-like construction with 'door te'.
De complexiteit van de materie vertraagde de besluitvorming in de ministerraad.
The complexity of the subject matter slowed down the decision-making in the council of ministers.
Formal administrative Dutch.
Het vertragen van de biologische klok is een centraal thema in de moderne anti-aging research.
Slowing down the biological clock is a central theme in modern anti-aging research.
Nominalized infinitive 'het vertragen'.
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
— To reduce speed. This is a very common alternative to 'vertragen' when driving or sailing.
Je moet vaart minderen als je de bebouwde kom binnenrijdt.
— To incur a delay. This uses the noun form and is extremely common in travel.
De trein heeft twintig minuten vertraging opgelopen.
— To slow down on purpose. Often used in legal or political contexts.
De oppositie probeert de stemming opzettelijk te vertragen.
— To slow down the work. Used when something hinders productivity.
De stakingen vertragen het werk in de haven.
— A slow-motion film. Used to describe the technique of showing movement slowly.
In een vertraagde film kun je de details van de beweging goed zien.
— Inevitably slow down. Used for processes that will definitely lose speed.
Zonder nieuwe investeringen zal de productie onvermijdelijk vertragen.
— The pace is low. A related phrase to describe a slow situation.
Het tempo van de wedstrijd lag erg laag.
— A delayed reaction. When someone takes longer than usual to respond.
Hij heeft soms een vertraagde reactie op grappen.
— To take one's foot off the gas. Figuratively: to slow down or take it easy.
Na die drukke periode moet hij echt even gas terugnemen.
慣用句と表現
— To put the brakes on something. To stop or significantly slow down a process.
De directeur besloot de rem op de uitgaven te zetten.
informal/business— To put something on the long track. To postpone or delay something for a long time.
Dat project is weer op de lange baan geschoven.
neutral— With the handbrake on. Doing something cautiously or without full commitment, resulting in slowness.
Het team speelde vandaag met de handrem erop.
informal/sports— Not putting any speed behind it. Not rushing or prioritizing a task.
De gemeente zet geen vaart achter de reparatie van de weg.
neutral— To take the momentum out of something. To slow down a successful or fast process.
De nieuwe regels hebben de vaart uit de woningmarkt gehaald.
neutral— To mark time. To stop moving forward and stay where you are, often to reflect or wait.
Het bedrijf moet even pas op de plaats maken na de snelle groei.
formal— To put something on a low burner. To give something less priority and slow it down.
Ik heb mijn hobby even op een laag pitje gezet.
informal— To put water in the wine. To compromise, which often slows down a radical change.
Beide partijen moesten water bij de wijn doen om het proces niet te vertragen.
neutral— To row against the current. To do something difficult that slows you down because of opposition.
Zonder steun van de baas is het tegen de stroom in roeien.
neutral— To kill time. Often done when a process is slowed down and you have to wait.
We moesten de tijd doden omdat de trein was vertraagd.
informal語族
名詞
動詞
形容詞
関連
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of a 'TRAin' that is 'TRaag' (slow). When the train 'verTRaagt', it is slowing down to enter the station. The 'ver-' prefix is like 'ver-y' much making it 'traag'.
視覚的連想
Imagine a snail (traag) wearing a high-visibility vest (ver-) trying to slow down a speeding car with a tiny stop sign.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to use 'vertragen' three times today: once when talking about traffic, once when talking about your work, and once when telling someone to slow down their speech.
語源
The word 'vertragen' is formed from the prefix 'ver-' and the adjective 'traag'. The prefix 'ver-' in Dutch often indicates a change of state or a causative action. 'Traag' comes from the Middle Dutch 'trage', which is related to the Old High German 'trāgi' and the Modern German 'träge', meaning lazy, slow, or inert.
元の意味： To make slow or to become slow.
GermanicSummary
The word 'vertragen' is your go-to verb for any situation where speed is decreasing. Whether you are driving a car, managing a delayed project, or discussing the slowing economy, 'vertragen' accurately describes the loss of momentum. Example: 'De regen vertraagt het verkeer' (The rain slows down the traffic).
- Vertragen is a Dutch verb meaning 'to slow down' or 'to decelerate' in both physical and abstract contexts.
- It is the opposite of 'versnellen' and is derived from the adjective 'traag', meaning slow or sluggish.
- The verb can be transitive (to slow something down) or intransitive (to slow down oneself/itself).
- It is commonly used in traffic, business, and science to describe a reduction in pace or progress.
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