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B1 noun #5,000 가장 일반적인 10분 분량

die Kleinfamilie

Nuclear family, parents and their children.

At the A1 level, you learn basic words for family members like 'Vater', 'Mutter', and 'Kind'. The word 'Kleinfamilie' is a bit more advanced because it is a compound noun, but the concept is easy to understand. It means a small family with only parents and children. You might see this word in a simple text about where people live. For example, 'Ich lebe in einer Kleinfamilie.' You don't need to use it often yet, but you should recognize that 'klein' means small and 'Familie' means family. At this level, just remember that it describes a home with a mom, a dad, and kids, without grandma or grandpa living there. It is a feminine word, so we say 'die Kleinfamilie'. When you talk about your own family, you usually just say 'meine Familie'. Use 'Kleinfamilie' when you want to be very specific about the structure. It is like saying 'nuclear family' in English, but it is used a bit more commonly in German books for beginners to explain social life.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to describe your life and social environment in more detail. 'Die Kleinfamilie' becomes useful when you compare different ways of living. You might talk about whether you live in a 'Großfamilie' (with many relatives) or a 'Kleinfamilie'. You will notice that in Germany, many people live in a Kleinfamilie in the city. You should be able to use the word in simple sentences like 'Die Kleinfamilie wohnt in einer Wohnung' or 'Viele Kleinfamilien haben einen Hund'. You also start to learn about the dative case. After 'in', you say 'in einer Kleinfamilie'. This is a common pattern. You might also hear this word in advertisements for family cars or vacation packages. It is important to know that this word is neutral and descriptive. It is not 'small' in a bad way; it just describes the group of people. You can also start to use adjectives with it, like 'die typische Kleinfamilie'.
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At the B1 level, you are expected to understand and discuss social topics. 'Die Kleinfamilie' is a key term here. You should understand the historical shift from large families to the nuclear family structure. You will encounter this word in articles about the 'Geburtenrate' (birth rate) or 'Wohnungsnot' (housing shortage). You should be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of this living model. For example, 'In einer Kleinfamilie hat man mehr Privatsphäre, aber weniger Unterstützung im Alltag.' You should also be comfortable with the genitive case: 'Die Probleme der Kleinfamilie'. At this level, you should distinguish between 'Kleinfamilie' and other modern forms like 'Patchworkfamilie' or 'Alleinerziehende'. You will hear this word on the news when politicians talk about 'Familienpolitik'. It is no longer just a vocabulary word; it is a concept you use to analyze German society. You might also use it in a presentation about 'Lebensformen in Deutschland'.
At the B2 level, you use 'die Kleinfamilie' in more abstract and academic contexts. You might read sociological texts that discuss the 'Isolation der Kleinfamilie' or the 'bürgerliche Kleinfamilie' as a product of the industrial age. You should be able to use the word in complex sentences with relative clauses, like 'Die Kleinfamilie, die in der Nachkriegszeit zum Ideal wurde, gerät heute immer mehr unter Druck.' You will also encounter it in professional contexts, such as marketing or urban planning. You should understand the nuances of the word—how it can represent stability but also a lack of social networking. You can participate in debates about whether the state should support the Kleinfamilie more than other living arrangements. Your vocabulary should include related terms like 'Kernfamilie' or 'Erwerbstätigkeit in der Kleinfamilie'. You should be able to write an essay comparing the Kleinfamilie in Germany with family structures in your home country using precise terminology.
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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the connotations of 'die Kleinfamilie'. You recognize it as a term that is deeply rooted in the history of the German middle class. You can analyze how the concept of the Kleinfamilie is reflected in German law (the 'Grundgesetz') and how it influences social debates about 'Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf' (reconciliation of family and work). You use the word fluently in high-level discussions about demography, sociology, and psychology. You might discuss the 'Funktionsverlust der Kleinfamilie'—the idea that the nuclear family can no longer fulfill all the emotional and social needs of its members. You understand that the word can be used somewhat critically in modern discourse to point out the limitations of the nuclear model. Your use of the word is precise, and you can switch between 'Kleinfamilie', 'Kernfamilie', and 'Gattenfamilie' depending on the register and the specific academic field you are referencing.
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At the C2 level, you master 'die Kleinfamilie' as a tool for sophisticated socio-political analysis. You can discuss the word's etymology and its role in the 'Modernisierungsprozess' of Europe. You are capable of reading and critiquing complex sociological theories (like those of Talcott Parsons or Niklas Luhmann) regarding the 'System Kleinfamilie'. You understand the subtle irony or nostalgia that might be attached to the word in literature or high-level journalism. You can produce texts that explore the intersection of the Kleinfamilie with economic systems, such as 'Die Kleinfamilie als Konsumeinheit im Spätkapitalismus'. Your command of the language allows you to use the word in any context, from a scientific paper to a poetic reflection on the changing nature of human connection. You are aware of how the concept of the Kleinfamilie is being redefined in the 21st century and can express these nuances with a rich, varied vocabulary and perfect grammatical accuracy.
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예시
The German word die Kleinfamilie is a precise sociological and everyday term used to describe the nuclear family unit. In its most fundamental sense, it refers to a household consisting of two parents and their immediate children. This word is not merely a description of size; it carries significant historical and social weight in the German-speaking world. The term emerged as a contrast to the Großfamilie (extended family), which was the standard social structure before the Industrial Revolution. When you use the word Kleinfamilie, you are often participating in a discussion about social structures, housing, or demographic trends. It is the 'standard' model that many social policies in the 20th century were built around.
Sociological Context
In sociology, the Kleinfamilie is often discussed as the 'Gattenfamilie' (spouse-based family), emphasizing the central role of the parental couple as the core of the household. This shift from extended kinship networks to smaller, more mobile units allowed for the labor flexibility required by modern industrial economies.

In den modernen Großstädten ist die Kleinfamilie oft auf sich allein gestellt, da die Großeltern weit weg wohnen.

The usage of this word is particularly common when discussing the 'ideal' of the 1950s and 60s, often referred to as the bürgerliche Kleinfamilie. This was the era where the nuclear family became the cultural norm in West Germany. However, in contemporary German, the word is also used to highlight what is missing: the support network of aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
Demographic Usage
Statisticians use the term to categorize household types in the 'Mikrozensus' (micro-census), helping the government plan for school capacities and urban development based on the number of nuclear families in a region.

Die staatliche Förderung konzentriert sich oft noch auf das klassische Modell der Kleinfamilie.

Urban Planning
Architects often design apartments specifically for the Kleinfamilie, typically featuring a master bedroom and one or two smaller children's rooms, reflecting the expectation of a four-person household.

Viele Neubaugebiete sind primär für die Kleinfamilie konzipiert worden.

Trotz des Wandels bleibt die Kleinfamilie für viele das erstrebenswerte Lebensziel.

In summary, 'die Kleinfamilie' is a term that bridges the gap between personal identity and social statistics. It describes a specific way of living that defines much of modern Western life, emphasizing the privacy and autonomy of the biological core unit over the broader network of relatives. Whether you are reading a newspaper article about declining birth rates or a sociology textbook about the evolution of the household, you will encounter this word as a fundamental building block of German social description.
Using die Kleinfamilie correctly involves understanding its grammatical function as a feminine noun and its specific semantic constraints. Because it refers to a collective unit, it is often used in the singular to describe a type of lifestyle or a specific household. When you talk about multiple such units, you use the plural die Kleinfamilien.
Subject Position
As the subject of a sentence, it often takes verbs related to living, existing, or changing. Example: 'Die Kleinfamilie dominiert das Stadtbild.' (The nuclear family dominates the cityscape.)

Heutzutage entscheidet sich die Kleinfamilie oft für ein Leben in der Vorstadt.

In the genitive case, which is common in formal writing, the word becomes der Kleinfamilie. This is frequently seen in phrases like 'die Bedürfnisse der Kleinfamilie' (the needs of the nuclear family).
Genitive Usage
Formal reports often analyze 'die Struktur der Kleinfamilie' (the structure of the nuclear family) to understand economic consumption patterns.

Die Isolation der Kleinfamilie kann in Krisenzeiten zu einer großen Belastung werden.

When using the dative case, for example after prepositions like 'in' or 'mit', it remains der Kleinfamilie in the singular. Example: 'In einer Kleinfamilie sind die Rollen oft klar verteilt.' (In a nuclear family, roles are often clearly distributed.)

Wir leben in einer typischen Kleinfamilie mit zwei Kindern und einem Hund.

Prepositional Phrases
Commonly used with 'von' to describe origins or 'für' to describe targeting. Example: 'Dieses Auto wurde speziell für die Kleinfamilie entwickelt.'

Das Marketing richtet sich gezielt an die Kleinfamilie der Mittelschicht.

Soziologen untersuchen seit Jahrzehnten den Wandel der Kleinfamilie.

In plural usage, 'Kleinfamilien' is used to talk about groups. 'Viele Kleinfamilien leiden unter den hohen Mieten.' (Many nuclear families suffer from high rents.) This plural form is essential for discussing social trends across a population. By mastering these patterns, you can discuss German social reality with precision and clarity.
You will encounter die Kleinfamilie in a variety of contexts, ranging from academic settings to evening news broadcasts. It is a staple of German 'Zeitgeist' discussions.
In the News
News segments regarding the housing market frequently mention 'bezahlbarer Wohnraum für die Kleinfamilie' (affordable living space for the nuclear family). It is the benchmark for political promises regarding family subsidies.

Die Tagesschau berichtete über die finanziellen Herausforderungen der Kleinfamilie in Ballungszentren.

In educational settings, specifically in 'Sozialkunde' (social studies) or 'Politik' classes, students learn about the Kleinfamilie as part of the curriculum on social structures. They compare it with historical models like the 'ganzes Haus' (whole house) where servants and relatives lived together.
Academic Discourse
Sociologists like Ulrich Beck have written extensively about the 'Individualisierung' (individualization) process that transformed the traditional family into the Kleinfamilie and later into even smaller units.

Im Soziologieseminar diskutierten wir über das Ende der Kleinfamilie als Standardmodell.

Die Werbung suggeriert oft ein perfektes Leben in der Kleinfamilie.

Real Estate and Housing
Real estate listings often use the term 'kleinfamiliengerecht' (suitable for a nuclear family) to describe a three- or four-room apartment with a small garden or balcony.

Diese Wohnung ist ideal für die Kleinfamilie, die Ruhe im Grünen sucht.

In der Talkshow wurde die Zukunftsfähigkeit der Kleinfamilie hinterfragt.

Finally, you might hear it in casual conversation when someone is explaining their living situation to a new acquaintance or a colleague. 'Wir leben als klassische Kleinfamilie in einem Reihenhaus.' It serves as a quick shorthand to communicate a whole set of social circumstances.
One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is confusing die Kleinfamilie with the phrase eine kleine Familie. While they look similar, they are used differently. 'Eine kleine Familie' simply describes a family that is small in number (perhaps just a mother and a son). 'Die Kleinfamilie' is a technical term for the nuclear family structure (parents + children), regardless of whether they have one child or five.
The 'Compound' Mistake
Learners often try to split the word: 'kleine Familie'. In German, 'Kleinfamilie' is a single concept. If you say 'Meine Familie ist eine Kleinfamilie', you are talking about the type. If you say 'Meine Familie ist klein', you are talking about the size.

Falsch: Wir sind eine kleine Familie (when meaning nuclear structure). Richtig: Wir leben als Kleinfamilie.

Another mistake involves gender. Since 'Familie' is feminine, 'Kleinfamilie' must also be feminine. Learners sometimes use the masculine 'der' because they think of 'der Haushalt' (the household), but you must stick with die.
Gender Error
Using 'das Kleinfamilie' or 'der Kleinfamilie' (in nominative) is a common slip. Always associate it with 'die Frau' or 'die Mutter' to remember the feminine gender.

Achten Sie auf den Artikel: Die Kleinfamilie ist eine soziale Errungenschaft.

Man sollte die Kleinfamilie nicht mit der Ein-Eltern-Familie verwechseln.

Pluralization
The plural is 'Kleinfamilien'. Some learners try to say 'Kleinfamilie' (no change) or 'Kleinfamilies'. Avoid the English '-s' plural at all costs.

Es gibt viele verschiedene Kleinfamilien in diesem Viertel.

In einem persönlichen Gespräch klingt die Kleinfamilie manchmal etwas distanziert.

Lastly, avoid using 'Kleinfamilie' for couples without children. The 'family' part of the word implies the presence of children. For a couple without children, use 'kinderloses Paar'.
To truly master the concept of die Kleinfamilie, you must understand its neighbors in the German vocabulary. The most direct contrast is die Großfamilie.
Kleinfamilie vs. Großfamilie
While 'Kleinfamilie' is the nuclear unit (parents + kids), 'Großfamilie' includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins often living in close proximity or the same house. The former emphasizes independence; the latter emphasizes collective support.

Der Übergang von der Großfamilie zur Kleinfamilie war ein zentraler Teil der Moderne.

Another modern alternative is the Patchworkfamilie. This refers to a family where at least one parent has brought children from a previous relationship into the new unit. While a Patchworkfamilie can be a Kleinfamilie in size, the term 'Patchwork' specifies the non-traditional biological structure.
Kernfamilie
This is a synonym for 'Kleinfamilie' often used in strictly academic or biological contexts. 'Kern' means 'core', making it the literal translation of 'nuclear family'. It is less common in everyday speech than 'Kleinfamilie'.

In der Fachliteratur wird oft der Begriff Kernfamilie statt Kleinfamilie verwendet.

Nicht jede Hausgemeinschaft bildet eine Kleinfamilie.

Ein-Eltern-Familie
As mentioned before, this is the term for single-parent households. In modern statistics, the 'Kleinfamilie' and the 'Ein-Eltern-Familie' are the two most common family types in Germany.

Die Ein-Eltern-Familie hat andere soziale Bedürfnisse als die Kleinfamilie.

Während die Sippe früher Schutz bot, übernimmt heute die Kleinfamilie diese Rolle im Privaten.

Finally, consider the word Haushalt (household). While a Kleinfamilie usually forms one household, a household can also consist of a single person or a group of unrelated students. Understanding these distinctions allows you to navigate German social structures with the precision of a native speaker.
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수준별 예문

1

Ich lebe in einer Kleinfamilie.

I live in a nuclear family.

Uses the dative case 'einer Kleinfamilie' after the preposition 'in'.

2

Die Kleinfamilie ist hier.

The nuclear family is here.

Nominative singular: 'Die Kleinfamilie'.

3

Meine Kleinfamilie hat einen Hund.

My nuclear family has a dog.

Possessive pronoun 'Meine' matches the feminine noun.

4

Ist das eine Kleinfamilie?

Is that a nuclear family?

Simple question structure.

5

Die Kleinfamilie wohnt in Berlin.

The nuclear family lives in Berlin.

Verb 'wohnt' agrees with the singular noun.

6

Wir sind eine Kleinfamilie.

We are a nuclear family.

Predicate nominative.

7

Die Kleinfamilie isst Pizza.

The nuclear family is eating pizza.

Simple present tense.

8

Das ist die Kleinfamilie Schmidt.

That is the Schmidt nuclear family.

Using a proper name with the noun.

1

In der Stadt gibt es viele Kleinfamilien.

In the city, there are many nuclear families.

Plural form 'Kleinfamilien'.

2

Sie sucht eine Wohnung für ihre Kleinfamilie.

She is looking for an apartment for her nuclear family.

Accusative case after 'für'.

3

Die Kleinfamilie fährt im Sommer ans Meer.

The nuclear family goes to the sea in summer.

Singular collective noun acting as subject.

4

Oft hilft die Großmutter der Kleinfamilie.

Often the grandmother helps the nuclear family.

Dative case 'der Kleinfamilie' as the object of 'helfen'.

5

Unsere Nachbarn sind eine nette Kleinfamilie.

Our neighbors are a nice nuclear family.

Adjective 'nette' with feminine ending.

6

Die Kleinfamilie braucht ein größeres Auto.

The nuclear family needs a bigger car.

Direct object 'ein größeres Auto'.

7

Früher war die Kleinfamilie nicht so häufig.

In the past, the nuclear family was not so common.

Imperfect tense 'war'.

8

Wir besuchen eine Kleinfamilie in München.

We are visiting a nuclear family in Munich.

Accusative singular 'eine Kleinfamilie'.

1

Die Kleinfamilie ist die häufigste Lebensform in Deutschland.

The nuclear family is the most common form of living in Germany.

Superlative 'häufigste'.

2

Viele Soziologen untersuchen die Struktur der Kleinfamilie.

Many sociologists study the structure of the nuclear family.

Genitive case 'der Kleinfamilie'.

3

Trotz der Vorteile kann die Kleinfamilie isoliert sein.

Despite the advantages, the nuclear family can be isolated.

Preposition 'trotz' with genitive.

4

Die Politik muss die Kleinfamilie besser unterstützen.

Politics must support the nuclear family better.

Modal verb 'muss'.

5

In einer Kleinfamilie teilen sich die Eltern oft die Arbeit.

In a nuclear family, parents often share the work.

Reflexive verb 'sich teilen'.

6

Die Kleinfamilie entstand während der Industrialisierung.

The nuclear family emerged during industrialization.

Präteritum 'entstand'.

7

Wohnungen für Kleinfamilien sind in Städten sehr teuer.

Apartments for nuclear families are very expensive in cities.

Plural dative after 'für' is not applicable here, it's accusative plural 'Kleinfamilien'.

8

Die Kleinfamilie bietet Kindern einen geschützten Raum.

The nuclear family offers children a protected space.

Verb 'bieten' with dative object (Kindern) and accusative object (Raum).

1

Das Modell der Kleinfamilie wird heutzutage oft hinterfragt.

The model of the nuclear family is often questioned nowadays.

Passive voice 'wird hinterfragt'.

2

Die bürgerliche Kleinfamilie prägte das soziale Bild des 20. Jahrhunderts.

The bourgeois nuclear family shaped the social image of the 20th century.

Adjective 'bürgerliche' adds historical context.

3

Kritiker bemängeln die mangelnde soziale Einbindung der Kleinfamilie.

Critics complain about the lack of social integration of the nuclear family.

Verb 'bemängeln' (to criticize/complain about).

4

Die Kleinfamilie ist ökonomisch gesehen eine wichtige Konsumeinheit.

From an economic perspective, the nuclear family is an important consumption unit.

Participle 'gesehen' used as an adverbial phrase.

5

Es gibt einen Trend weg von der Kleinfamilie hin zu neuen Lebensformen.

There is a trend away from the nuclear family towards new forms of living.

Prepositional pair 'weg von... hin zu...'.

6

Die Kleinfamilie stößt bei der Kinderbetreuung oft an ihre Grenzen.

The nuclear family often reaches its limits when it comes to childcare.

Idiomatic expression 'an seine Grenzen stoßen'.

7

Architektonisch ist die Kleinfamilie das Maß aller Dinge im Wohnungsbau.

Architecturally, the nuclear family is the measure of all things in housing construction.

Genitive 'aller Dinge'.

8

Die Kleinfamilie hat die traditionelle Sippe fast vollständig verdrängt.

The nuclear family has almost completely displaced the traditional clan.

Perfect tense 'hat verdrängt'.

1

Die Erosion der Kleinfamilie als gesellschaftlicher Standard ist unübersehbar.

The erosion of the nuclear family as a social standard is unmistakable.

Noun 'Erosion' used metaphorically.

2

In der Kleinfamilie manifestiert sich der Wunsch nach Privatsphäre und Autonomie.

The desire for privacy and autonomy manifests in the nuclear family.

Reflexive verb 'sich manifestieren'.

3

Die Kleinfamilie fungiert als emotionaler Rückzugsort in einer komplexen Welt.

The nuclear family functions as an emotional retreat in a complex world.

Verb 'fungieren als' (to function as).

4

Soziologische Theorien beschreiben die Kleinfamilie als funktional differenziertes System.

Sociological theories describe the nuclear family as a functionally differentiated system.

Academic terminology 'funktional differenziert'.

5

Die Kleinfamilie ist oft durch eine starke emotionale Verdichtung gekennzeichnet.

The nuclear family is often characterized by a strong emotional intensity.

Passive construction 'gekennzeichnet durch'.

6

Man diskutiert über die psychologischen Folgen der Isolation innerhalb der Kleinfamilie.

The psychological consequences of isolation within the nuclear family are being discussed.

Preposition 'innerhalb' with genitive.

7

Die Kleinfamilie bleibt trotz aller Unkenrufe ein stabiler Pfeiler der Gesellschaft.

Despite all the pessimistic predictions, the nuclear family remains a stable pillar of society.

Idiom 'Unkenrufe' (pessimistic predictions).

8

Die Kleinfamilie unterliegt einem ständigen Wandel ihrer inneren Rollenverteilung.

The nuclear family is subject to a constant change in its internal role distribution.

Verb 'unte

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