definieren 30초 만에
- Definieren is a verb used to establish the precise meaning or boundaries of a concept or term.
- It is a regular '-ieren' verb, meaning its past participle is 'definiert' (no 'ge-').
- Commonly used in academic, professional, and technical German to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.
- It often pairs with the preposition 'als' (e.g., etwas als Erfolg definieren).
The German verb definieren is a cornerstone of precise communication, particularly in academic, professional, and technical contexts. At its core, it means to establish the exact boundaries of a concept, word, or situation. When you definieren something, you are essentially saying, 'This is exactly what this means, and this is what it does not mean.' It comes from the Latin definire, where 'de-' implies completion and 'finis' means boundary or end. In a world of ambiguity, this verb acts as a tool for clarity.
- Semantic Range
- It covers everything from dictionary definitions to the mathematical assignment of values.
- Grammatical Function
- It is a weak (regular) verb that takes the accusative object.
- Social Nuance
- Using this word often signals a desire for intellectual rigor or formal agreement.
"Wir müssen zuerst unsere Ziele klar definieren, bevor wir mit dem Projekt beginnen können."
In everyday German, while you might use 'erklären' (to explain) for simple things, definieren is reserved for when you want to be authoritative. For example, in a relationship, one might say 'Wir müssen unsere Beziehung definieren' (We need to define our relationship), which implies a formal step of labeling the status. This illustrates how the word moves from the abstract to the deeply personal.
"Wie definieren Sie Erfolg in Ihrer neuen Position?"
Furthermore, the word is indispensable in the sciences. A mathematician definiert a variable; a biologist definiert a species. Without this verb, the structure of logical argumentation would collapse. It is the act of drawing a circle around an idea and saying, 'Everything inside this circle is the concept.'
- Etymological Root
- Latin 'finis' (boundary) + 'de' (completely).
- Logical Context
- Used to set parameters in programming (e.g., defining a function).
Using definieren correctly requires understanding its transitive nature. It almost always requires a direct object—the thing being defined. In the present tense, it follows the standard pattern: ich definiere, du definierst, er/sie/es definiert. Because it ends in '-ieren', it is a verb of foreign origin, meaning its past participle does not use the 'ge-' prefix: hat definiert.
- Present Tense
- Ich definiere die Regeln.
- Perfect Tense
- Wir haben den Begriff neu definiert.
- Passive Voice
- Die Schönheit wird oft subjektiv definiert.
"In diesem Gesetz wird genau definiert, wer Anspruch auf Hilfe hat."
One common usage pattern is 'etwas als etwas definieren' (to define something as something). This is crucial for categorization. For instance, 'Man kann diesen Zustand als Krise definieren.' Here, 'als' acts as the bridge between the object and its definition. Another pattern is the use of adverbs to describe the *way* something is defined: klar, vage, präzise, eng, weit.
In technical writing, you will often see the reflexive-like construction 'lässt sich definieren als' (can be defined as). This is a sophisticated way to introduce a definition without using a personal subject. For example: 'Glück lässt sich nicht einfach definieren.' (Happiness cannot be easily defined).
"Die Parameter müssen vor der Analyse fest definiert werden."
You will encounter definieren in various spheres of German life. In the Academic World, it is omnipresent. Every lecture starts with defining terms. In Business, meetings often revolve around 'Ziele definieren' (defining goals) or 'Rollen definieren' (defining roles). If you work in IT in Germany, you will 'Funktionen definieren' daily.
- News & Media
- Journalists discuss how a political party defines its platform.
- Legal Contexts
- Lawyers argue over how a specific law defines 'negligence'.
- Self-Help
- Podcasts talk about how we define ourselves through our habits.
"Die Grenzen des Wachstums wurden in der Studie neu definiert."
Interestingly, it has also entered the Social Media lexicon. Influencers might talk about 'Aesthetics', saying 'Dieser Look definiert meinen Style.' Here, the word takes on a more creative, identity-forming meaning. It's no longer just about logic; it's about essence.
The most frequent mistake learners make is adding the 'ge-' prefix to the past participle. Saying 'ich habe gedefiniert' is a classic error. Because it is an '-ieren' verb, it must be 'ich habe definiert'. Another mistake is confusing it with 'erklären'. While 'erklären' means to make someone understand something, definieren is about setting the exact meaning.
- Wrong Prefix
- Avoid 'gedefiniert'. Correct: 'definiert'.
- Wrong Preposition
- Don't use 'definieren zu'. Use 'definieren als'.
- Overuse
- Don't use it for simple explanations. Use 'erklären' for 'Can you explain the way?'.
"Falsch: Er hat das Wort ge-definiert. Richtig: Er hat das Wort definiert."
Another subtle mistake is the word order in subordinate clauses. Remember that in a 'dass' clause, 'definiert' will move to the very end: '...dass er den Begriff genau definiert.' Learners often forget the reflexive 'sich' when using the passive-alternative 'sich definieren lassen'.
Several German verbs orbit the meaning of definieren. Festlegen is the most common synonym, meaning to determine or fix something. While 'definieren' is linguistic/conceptual, 'festlegen' is often about decisions or schedules. Bestimmen means to determine or designate, often used in biological or mathematical contexts (e.g., 'den Wert bestimmen').
- Präzisieren
- To make a definition more precise.
- Charakterisieren
- To describe the qualities of something rather than its boundaries.
- Erläutern
- To explain in detail, often used for complex theories.
"Wir müssen die Bedingungen festlegen (determine), aber den Begriff definieren (define)."
There is also Umschreiben, which means to paraphrase. If you cannot 'definieren' a word because it's too complex, you might 'umschreiben' it. In legal texts, you often see Festsetzen, which is used for prices or penalties. Understanding these nuances helps you choose the right level of formality.
How Formal Is It?
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발음 가이드
난이도
알아야 할 문법
수준별 예문
Kannst du das Wort definieren?
Can you define the word?
Question with modal verb 'können'.
Ich definiere das Wort.
I define the word.
Simple present tense.
Wir definieren die Regeln.
We define the rules.
Plural subject.
Was definiert er?
What is he defining?
Interrogative sentence.
Sie definiert den Begriff.
She defines the term.
Third person singular.
Das ist schwer zu definieren.
That is hard to define.
Infinitive with 'zu'.
Definieren Sie bitte!
Please define (it)!
Imperative form (formal).
Lerne, wie man definiert.
Learn how one defines.
Imperative + subordinate clause.
Er hat das Ziel klar definiert.
He defined the goal clearly.
Perfect tense (no 'ge-').
Wie hast du das definiert?
How did you define that?
Perfect tense question.
Wir definierten die Aufgabe gestern.
We defined the task yesterday.
Präteritum (simple past).
Das Wort ist einfach zu definieren.
The word is easy to define.
Adjective + 'zu' + infinitive.
Ich möchte meine Rolle definieren.
I would like to define my role.
Modal verb 'möchte'.
Sie definieren ihre Freundschaft neu.
They are redefining their friendship.
Verb with adverb 'neu'.
Warum definierst du das so?
Why do you define it that way?
Present tense with 'warum'.
Das wurde bereits definiert.
That was already defined.
Passive voice (Zustandspassiv).
Wir müssen unsere Strategie genau definieren.
We must define our strategy exactly.
Modal verb + adverb.
Er definiert sich über seine Arbeit.
He defines himself through his work.
Reflexive use with 'über'.
Es ist wichtig, Begriffe klar zu definieren.
It is important to define terms clearly.
Infinitivsatz with 'zu'.
Die Wissenschaft definiert den Menschen als Lebewesen.
Science defines humans as living beings.
Usage of 'als'.
Hast du die Anforderungen schon definiert?
Have you already defined the requirements?
Perfect tense with 'schon'.
Das Problem lässt sich schwer definieren.
The problem is hard to define.
Reflexive 'lässt sich' construction.
Jeder definiert Erfolg anders.
Everyone defines success differently.
Indefinite pronoun 'jeder'.
Bevor wir starten, definieren wir die Regeln.
Before we start, we define the rules.
Temporal subordinate clause.
Die Grenzen wurden im Vertrag präzise definiert.
The boundaries were precisely defined in the contract.
Vorgangspassiv (Präteritum).
Man sollte seine Erwartungen klar definieren.
One should clearly define one's expectations.
Modal verb 'sollte' (Konjunktiv II).
Diese Kennzahl definiert den Erfolg des Projekts.
This metric defines the success of the project.
Subject is an abstract noun.
Schönheit wird in jeder Kultur anders definiert.
Beauty is defined differently in every culture.
Passive voice present tense.
Wir haben den Prozess neu definiert, um Zeit zu sparen.
We redefined the process to save time.
Finalsatz with 'um...zu'.
Es ist schwierig, diesen Begriff allgemeingültig zu definieren.
It is difficult to define this term in a universally valid way.
Compound adjective 'allgemeingültig'.
Die Parameter sind fest definiert.
The parameters are firmly defined.
Zustandspassiv.
Wie definieren Sie Ihre Kernkompetenzen?
How do you define your core competencies?
Formal address 'Sie'.
Die Studie definiert Armut anhand des Medianeinkommens.
The study defines poverty based on the median income.
Preposition 'anhand' + genitive.
Es gilt, den Begriff der Nachhaltigkeit neu zu definieren.
It is necessary to redefine the concept of sustainability.
'Es gilt... zu' construction.
In der Philosophie wird Existenz oft unterschiedlich definiert.
In philosophy, existence is often defined differently.
Passive voice in academic context.
Das Gesetz definiert genau, was als Straftat gilt.
The law defines exactly what counts as a criminal offense.
Subordinate clause with 'was'.
Die Identität einer Nation definiert sich durch ihre Geschichte.
A nation's identity defines itself through its history.
Reflexive 'sich definieren durch'.
Könnten Sie diesen Punkt bitte etwas genauer definieren?
Could you please define this point a bit more precisely?
Polite Konjunktiv II.
Oft werden Begriffe vage definiert, um Spielraum zu lassen.
Terms are often vaguely defined to leave room for maneuver.
Passive voice + final clause.
Die Grenzen zwischen Arbeit und Freizeit verschwimmen und müssen neu definiert werden.
The boundaries between work and leisure are blurring and must be redefined.
Complex sentence with modal passive.
Die ontologische Differenz lässt sich kaum hinreichend definieren.
The ontological difference can hardly be sufficiently defined.
Highly academic vocabulary.
Es wäre fatal, den Begriff der Freiheit zu eng zu definieren.
It would be fatal to define the concept of freedom too narrowly.
Konjunktiv II with 'wäre'.
Die Autorin definiert den Diskursraum durch ihre provokanten Thesen.
The author defines the space of discourse through her provocative theses.
Abstract metaphorical usage.
Inwieweit definiert die Sprache unser Denken?
To what extent does language define our thinking?
Interrogative 'inwieweit'.
Das Urteil definiert die Befugnisse der Behörde grundlegend neu.
The judgment fundamentally redefines the powers of the authority.
Adverbial 'grundlegend neu'.
Eine präzise Definition setzt voraus, dass man die Merkmale klar definiert.
A precise definition presupposes that one clearly defines the characteristics.
Noun-verb relationship in a 'dass' clause.
Der Begriff ist dahingehend zu definieren, dass er alle Eventualitäten abdeckt.
The term is to be defined in such a way that it covers all eventualities.
'sein + zu + Infinitiv' (gerundive).
Sollte der Begriff nicht klar definiert sein, entstehen Missverständnisse.
Should the term not be clearly defined, misunderstandings arise.
Conditional clause without 'wenn'.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
etwas als etwas definieren
sich über etwas definieren
eindeutig definiert sein
gesetzlich definiert
eng definiert
weit definiert
wissenschaftlich definiert
neu zu definieren
schwer zu definieren
klar definierte Regeln
자주 혼동되는 단어
To explain (general) vs. to define (exact meaning).
To determine/decide vs. to define a concept.
To set/fix (like a date) vs. to define (linguistic).
관용어 및 표현
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혼동하기 쉬운
문장 패턴
사용법
It implies a logical boundary.
'Definieren' is more formal than 'erklären'.
- Using 'gedefiniert' instead of 'definiert'.
- Using 'definieren' when 'erklären' (to explain how to do something) is meant.
- Forgetting the 'als' in 'etwas als etwas definieren'.
- Misplacing the stress on the first syllable.
- Confusing 'definieren' with 'differenzieren' (to differentiate).
팁
No 'ge-'
Always remember: ich habe definiert. Never gedefiniert. This applies to all -ieren verbs like studieren or telefonieren.
Use 'als'
When defining something as a category, use 'als'. Example: 'Ich definiere das als Erfolg.'
Academic Tone
Use 'definieren' instead of 'sagen' or 'meinen' in essays to sound more professional and precise.
Clarification
If someone uses a vague word, ask: 'Wie definierst du das?' to clarify the conversation.
Boundaries
Think of defining as drawing a boundary. It helps you remember the Latin root 'finis' (end/limit).
Goal Setting
In business, always talk about 'Ziele definieren'. It sounds more proactive than just 'Ziele haben'.
Listen for 'nie'
The stress is on the 'nie'. This helps you distinguish it from other similar-sounding words.
Reflexive Use
Use 'sich definieren über' to describe what makes a person or group unique.
Cognate Power
Since it's almost the same as 'define', focus your energy on the German pronunciation and grammar instead of the meaning.
Universal Word
This word works in almost every field: law, science, art, and daily life.
암기하기
어원
Latin 'definire'
문화적 맥락
German universities emphasize 'Begriffsdefinition' in the first semester of almost any subject.
Defining a relationship (Dating) might happen later but more explicitly than in some other cultures.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
대화 시작하기
"Wie würdest du 'Glück' definieren?"
"Wie definieren wir die Ziele für unser Team?"
"Sollten wir unsere Rollen im Projekt klarer definieren?"
"Wie definiert man in deiner Kultur 'Erfolg'?"
"Kann man Liebe überhaupt definieren?"
일기 주제
Definiere drei Ziele für den nächsten Monat.
Wie definierst du dich selbst in drei Worten?
Schreibe darüber, wie sich deine Definition von 'Heimat' verändert hat.
Definiere, was ein 'guter Tag' für dich bedeutet.
Warum ist es wichtig, Grenzen in Freundschaften zu definieren?
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, verbs ending in -ieren never take the 'ge-' prefix in the past participle. It is simply 'definiert'.
Yes, 'sich definieren' means to define oneself, often through traits or actions.
The noun is 'die Definition', which is feminine.
Yes, it is used to define variables and functions constantly.
It often takes 'als' (as) or 'über' (through/via).
No, it is a weak (regular) verb.
No, you define something *as* something (als).
Yes, it is considered a higher-register word.
No, 'de-' is part of the root, not a separable prefix.
Yes, 'wird definiert' is very common in academic writing.
셀프 테스트 180 질문
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The verb 'definieren' is your primary tool for precision in German. Use it to set clear boundaries for ideas, roles, or goals, especially in formal writing and professional discussions where 'erklären' is too vague.
- Definieren is a verb used to establish the precise meaning or boundaries of a concept or term.
- It is a regular '-ieren' verb, meaning its past participle is 'definiert' (no 'ge-').
- Commonly used in academic, professional, and technical German to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.
- It often pairs with the preposition 'als' (e.g., etwas als Erfolg definieren).
No 'ge-'
Always remember: ich habe definiert. Never gedefiniert. This applies to all -ieren verbs like studieren or telefonieren.
Use 'als'
When defining something as a category, use 'als'. Example: 'Ich definiere das als Erfolg.'
Academic Tone
Use 'definieren' instead of 'sagen' or 'meinen' in essays to sound more professional and precise.
Clarification
If someone uses a vague word, ask: 'Wie definierst du das?' to clarify the conversation.
관련 콘텐츠
관련 표현
academic 관련 단어
Abbildung
B1글 속에 있는 그림이나 도표, 삽화 같은 거야. 정보를 더 잘 이해하도록 도와주지.
Abhandlung
B1특정 주제를 깊이 있게 탐구하는, 상세하고 학술적인 글을 말해요.
ableiten
B1가지고 있는 정보를 바탕으로 무언가를 추론하거나 결론을 도출하는 것을 말해요.
Absatz
B1글의 한 부분으로, 하나의 중심 내용을 다루는 문단이나 절을 뜻해요.
abschließend
B1마지막으로 할 말이나 결론을 말할 때 'abschließend'를 사용해요.
Abschlussarbeit
B1학업을 마칠 때 쓰는 논문이나 졸업 논문 같은 중요한 학술 저작물이에요. 당신의 연구와 지식을 보여주는 거죠.
Abschlusszeugnis
B1과정이나 학교를 마쳤을 때 받는 공식적인 서류를 말해.
Abschnitt
B1글의 단락이나 인생의 한 단계와 같이 더 큰 것의 한 부분이나 구획.
Absolvent
B1학교나 대학에서 학업을 성공적으로 마친 사람을 말합니다.
absolvieren
B1학업이나 훈련 과정을 무사히 마치는 것을 말해요.
