Messen 30초 만에
- Messen means to measure physical or abstract values.
- It is an irregular verb: ich messe, du misst, er misst.
- Commonly used in science, construction, and daily health.
- Can also mean to compete when used reflexively (sich messen).
The German verb messen is a fundamental pillar of both physical science and everyday life. At its core, it refers to the objective determination of dimensions, quantities, or intensities using a standardized unit or instrument. Whether you are a tailor measuring the inseam of a pair of trousers, a scientist recording the temperature of a chemical reaction, or a baker ensuring the exact weight of flour, you are performing the act of messen. In the German language, this verb carries a sense of precision and factual accuracy that distinguishes it from more subjective verbs like 'schätzen' (to estimate).
- Physical Dimension
- Determining length, height, or width using tools like a 'Lineal' (ruler) or 'Zollstock' (folding rule).
- Scientific Quantity
- Quantifying abstract values such as 'Temperatur' (temperature), 'Druck' (pressure), or 'Zeit' (time).
- Metaphorical Comparison
- Evaluating performance or quality against a standard, often seen in the reflexive form 'sich messen mit' (to compete/measure oneself against).
"Der Architekt muss die Wände genau messen, bevor er den Plan zeichnet." (The architect must measure the walls exactly before drawing the plan.)
Beyond the literal, messen appears in various professional contexts. In medicine, one might 'den Puls messen' (measure the pulse) or 'Fieber messen' (take a temperature). In sports, athletes 'messen ihre Kräfte' (measure their strengths) in competition. The verb is irregular, undergoing a vowel change in the second and third person singular (ich messe, du misst, er misst), which is a crucial detail for learners to master early on. This irregularity signals its ancient Germanic roots, linking it to the concept of 'measure' across many Indo-European languages.
"In der Wissenschaft ist es wichtig, Ergebnisse objektiv zu messen." (In science, it is important to measure results objectively.)
"Kannst du bitte die Länge des Tisches messen?" (Can you please measure the length of the table?)
- Technical Precision
- Used in engineering to describe the calibration of sensors and high-precision instruments.
- Daily Utility
- Used in cooking, DIY projects, and health monitoring.
"Wir messen den Erfolg eines Projekts an seinen Ergebnissen." (We measure the success of a project by its results.)
"Das Gerät misst die Luftfeuchtigkeit im Raum." (The device measures the humidity in the room.)
Using messen correctly requires attention to its grammatical shifts and the specific prepositions that accompany it in different contexts. As a strong verb, its conjugation is the first hurdle for many students. In the present tense, the 'e' in the stem changes to an 'i' for 'du' and 'er/sie/es'. This results in 'du misst' and 'er misst'. Interestingly, because the stem ends in 'ss', the 's' of the second person ending '-st' merges, making the second and third person forms identical. This is a common pattern in German verbs like 'essen' or 'fressen'.
- Direct Object: Most commonly, 'messen' takes an accusative object. Ich messe den Garten. (I measure the garden.)
- Reflexive with 'mit': When you want to say you are competing with someone or comparing yourself, use 'sich messen mit' + Dative. Er will sich mit den Besten messen. (He wants to measure himself against the best.)
- Passive Voice: In technical manuals, you will often see the passive. Die Spannung wird gemessen. (The voltage is being measured.)
In terms of syntax, 'messen' often appears with adverbs of precision. Words like 'genau' (exactly), 'präzise' (precisely), or 'grob' (roughly) help define the quality of the measurement. Furthermore, when discussing the result of a measurement, Germans often use the verb 'betragen' or simply 'sein', but 'messen' can also be used intransitively in specific contexts, such as 'Das Brett misst zwei Meter' (The board measures two meters), though 'ist zwei Meter lang' is more common in casual speech.
Conjugation Table (Present)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | messe |
| du | misst |
| er/sie/es | misst |
| wir | messen |
| ihr | messt |
| sie/Sie | messen |
When moving into more advanced usage, you will encounter separable prefix versions of the verb. 'Abmessen' is often used for cutting material to size (like fabric or wood). 'Ausmessen' is used for measuring the dimensions of a room or a space to see if furniture fits. 'Vermessen' can mean to measure something incorrectly (reflexive: 'ich habe mich vermessen') or to survey land professionally. Understanding these nuances allows for much more precise communication in professional German environments.
The word messen is ubiquitous in Germany, a culture often stereotyped (and self-identified) for its love of precision, engineering, and data. You will hear it in various domains, ranging from the domestic to the highly industrial. In a German 'Baumarkt' (DIY store), you'll hear customers asking for tools to 'messen'. In a 'Arztpraxis' (doctor's office), the 'Arzthelferin' will likely say, 'Ich muss kurz Ihren Blutdruck messen' (I need to measure your blood pressure). These are everyday scenarios where the verb is essential.
At Home & Shopping
Tailors measuring for a suit, parents measuring a child's height against a doorframe, or checking if a new sofa fits in the living room.
Science & Industry
Laboratories measuring chemical concentrations, engineers measuring tolerances in car parts, or meteorologists measuring rainfall.
In the news and media, messen is frequently used in discussions about the economy and social progress. Journalists might talk about how 'der Erfolg einer Regierung an der Arbeitslosenquote gemessen wird' (the success of a government is measured by the unemployment rate). This abstract usage is very common in political discourse. Furthermore, in the world of sports, especially during the Olympics or the Bundesliga, commentators talk about athletes 'sich mit der Weltspitze messen' (competing with the world's best). Here, the verb transcends physical units and enters the realm of metaphorical comparison and competition.
"In Deutschland wird viel Wert auf Genauigkeit gelegt, daher hört man das Wort 'messen' oft in beruflichen Kontexten, in denen Qualitätssicherung eine Rolle spielt."
For learners of German, messen presents several pitfalls, primarily related to its irregular conjugation and its similarity to other verbs. The most frequent error is failing to apply the vowel change in the present tense. Many students say 'du messt' instead of the correct du misst. This is particularly confusing because the 'ihr' form (plural you) is 'ihr messt', leading to a mix-up between singular and plural forms.
- ✗
Wrong Conjugation
Incorrect: "Er messt das Zimmer."
Correct: "Er misst das Zimmer." - ✗
Confusing with 'Missen'
'Missen' means to lack or to do without. It is a regular verb. Don't say "Ich misse die Temperatur" if you mean you are measuring it.
- ✗
Past Participle Errors
Incorrect: "Ich habe gemesst."
Correct: "Ich habe gemessen." (It is a strong verb ending in -en).
Another subtle mistake involves the reflexive use. When you say 'sich messen', you must include the preposition 'mit'. Simply saying 'Ich messe mich ihm' is grammatically incomplete; it must be 'Ich messe mich mit ihm'. Additionally, learners often confuse 'messen' with 'wiegen' (to weigh). While weighing is a form of measuring, 'messen' is generally used for dimensions or abstract values, whereas 'wiegen' is specific to mass. If you are at the doctor, you 'messen' your height but 'wiegen' your weight.
While messen is the standard term for determining a value, German offers several synonyms and related verbs that provide more specific nuances. Choosing the right one can significantly elevate your level of expression. For instance, if you are not using a tool but rather making a guess based on experience, you would use schätzen (to estimate). If you are determining weight specifically, wiegen is the correct choice. In scientific or formal contexts, you might encounter ermitteln (to determine/ascertain), which implies a more complex process of calculation or investigation than a simple measurement.
Abmessen vs. Ausmessen
'Abmessen' is often used for portions or lengths of material (e.g., measuring 2 meters of rope). 'Ausmessen' is used for spaces (e.g., measuring a room to see if a bed fits).
Vermessen
This can be a professional term for surveying land, but as a reflexive verb 'sich vermessen', it means to make a mistake in measuring.
Dosieren
Specifically used for measuring out doses of medicine or ingredients in a very controlled way.
In more abstract senses, beurteilen (to judge/assess) or evaluieren (to evaluate) are used when the 'measurement' is qualitative rather than quantitative. For example, you 'evaluate' a student's progress rather than 'measuring' it, unless you are specifically referring to test scores. Understanding these distinctions helps avoid the 'one-size-fits-all' trap that many learners fall into when using basic verbs.
How Formal Is It?
발음 가이드
난이도
알아야 할 문법
Irregular verbs (e -> i change)
Passive voice
Separable verbs
Reflexive verbs with prepositions
Nominalization of verbs
수준별 예문
Ich messe den Tisch.
I measure the table.
Present tense, 1st person singular.
Misst du das Fenster?
Are you measuring the window?
Vowel change e -> i in 2nd person singular.
Er misst die Tür.
He measures the door.
Vowel change e -> i in 3rd person singular.
Wir messen die Länge.
We measure the length.
Regular plural form.
Messen Sie bitte das Zimmer?
Could you please measure the room?
Formal 'Sie' form.
Das Kind misst seine Größe.
The child measures his height.
Subject-verb agreement.
Ich messe mit einem Lineal.
I measure with a ruler.
Preposition 'mit' + Dative.
Was misst du da?
What are you measuring there?
Interrogative sentence.
Ich habe das Regal gemessen.
I have measured the shelf.
Perfekt with 'haben' and 'gemessen'.
Hast du schon Fieber gemessen?
Have you already taken your temperature?
Common phrase 'Fieber messen'.
Wir müssen die Breite genau messen.
We must measure the width exactly.
Modal verb 'müssen' + infinitive.
Sie maß die Zeit mit einer Stoppuhr.
She measured the time with a stopwatch.
Präteritum (simple past) of 'messen'.
Können Sie den Blutdruck messen?
Can you measure the blood pressure?
Medical context.
Das Gerät misst automatisch.
The device measures automatically.
Adverb 'automatisch'.
Ich messe die Zutaten für den Kuchen.
I measure the ingredients for the cake.
Cooking context.
Warum misst du das noch einmal?
Why are you measuring that again?
Adverb 'noch einmal'.
Du solltest den Raum erst ausmessen.
You should measure the room first.
Separable verb 'ausmessen'.
Er misst sich gerne mit anderen Sportlern.
He likes to measure himself against other athletes.
Reflexive 'sich messen mit'.
Wir haben das Mehl sorgfältig abgemessen.
We measured the flour carefully.
Separable verb 'abmessen'.
Die Tiefe des Sees wurde gemessen.
The depth of the lake was measured.
Passive voice (Zustandspassiv).
Ich habe mich beim Messen geirrt.
I made a mistake while measuring.
Nominalized verb 'das Messen'.
Man misst den Erfolg nicht nur an Geld.
One doesn't measure success only by money.
Abstract usage.
Die Schneiderin misst den Umfang der Taille.
The tailor measures the waist circumference.
Professional context.
Dieses Instrument misst sehr präzise.
This instrument measures very precisely.
Adverb 'präzise'.
Die Wirksamkeit der Medizin muss gemessen werden.
The effectiveness of the medicine must be measured.
Passive voice with modal verb.
Er will seine Kräfte mit dem Champion messen.
He wants to pit his strength against the champion.
Idiomatic 'Kräfte messen'.
Die CO2-Werte werden stündlich gemessen.
The CO2 levels are measured hourly.
Scientific context.
An diesen Standards müssen wir uns messen lassen.
We must allow ourselves to be measured by these standards.
Reflexive passive construction.
Das Grundstück wurde neu vermessen.
The property was re-surveyed.
Verb 'vermessen' (surveying).
Intelligenz ist schwer objektiv zu messen.
Intelligence is difficult to measure objectively.
Adverb 'objektiv'.
Die Sensoren messen kleinste Erschütterungen.
The sensors measure the smallest vibrations.
Technical context.
Wir messen den Fortschritt anhand dieser Kriterien.
We measure progress based on these criteria.
Preposition 'anhand' + Genitive.
Man darf hier nicht mit zweierlei Maß messen.
One must not use double standards here.
Idiom 'mit zweierlei Maß messen'.
Die Messung ergab eine signifikante Abweichung.
The measurement showed a significant deviation.
Noun 'Messung'.
Er hat sich bei der Kalkulation völlig vermessen.
He completely miscalculated/mismeasured.
Reflexive 'sich vermessen' (to err).
Die Qualität lässt sich kaum quantitativ messen.
Quality can hardly be measured quantitatively.
Adverb 'quantitativ'.
Die Bedeutung dieses Ereignisses ist kaum zu ermessen.
The significance of this event is hard to fathom/measure.
Verb 'ermessen' (to fathom).
Inwieweit lässt sich soziale Gerechtigkeit messen?
To what extent can social justice be measured?
Abstract philosophical question.
Die Instrumente müssen regelmäßig geeicht werden.
The instruments must be calibrated regularly.
Related verb 'eichen'.
Sie misst ihren Worten eine große Bedeutung bei.
She attaches great importance to her words.
Separable verb 'beimessen'.
Die Unendlichkeit des Universums entzieht sich jedem Versuch, sie zu messen.
The infinity of the universe eludes any attempt to measure it.
High-level literary style.
Er pflegt sich stets an den höchsten moralischen Idealen zu messen.
He always tends to measure himself against the highest moral ideals.
Reflexive with abstract dative.
Die Validität der erhobenen Messdaten ist höchst fragwürdig.
The validity of the collected measurement data is highly questionable.
Academic vocabulary.
Es gilt, das rechte Maß in allen Dingen zu finden.
It is important to find the right measure in all things.
Noun 'das Maß' in a philosophical sense.
Die Tragweite seiner Entscheidung war damals noch nicht zu ermessen.
The scope of his decision was not yet fathomable at that time.
Gerundive-like 'zu ermessen' construction.
Das Unternehmen misst der Nachhaltigkeit eine zentrale Rolle zu.
The company attributes a central role to sustainability.
Dative object with 'beimessen'.
Die Vermessung der Welt war ein monumentales Unterfangen.
The measuring of the world was a monumental undertaking.
Reference to literature/history.
Jede Messung ist zwangsläufig mit einer gewissen Unschärfe behaftet.
Every measurement is inevitably fraught with a certain uncertainty.
Scientific/Philosophical nuance.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
자주 혼동되는 단어
관용어 및 표현
혼동하기 쉬운
문장 패턴
사용법
'Sich messen' implies a challenge.
In engineering, 'messen' is the first step of 'regeln' (control).
팁
Vowel Change
Remember: ich messe, BUT du misst. The 'e' changes to 'i'.
Prefixes
Learn 'ausmessen' for furniture and 'abmessen' for recipes.
Health
Always use 'messen' for 'Blutdruck' and 'Fieber'.
Construction
In DIY, 'messen' is the most important verb before 'schneiden'.
Competition
Use 'sich messen mit' to talk about sports or business rivals.
Data
In papers, use 'Messung' for the noun form of measurement.
Precision
Add 'genau' (exactly) to sound more natural.
Endings
Listen for 'gemessen' in the Perfekt tense.
Formal Reports
Use the passive voice: 'Es wurde gemessen'.
Standards
Remember 'DIN' standards when thinking about German measuring.
암기하기
어원
문화적 맥락
Germans value exact numbers over vague estimates.
The concept of 'Maß' is central to German philosophy (e.g., Nietzsche, Goethe).
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
대화 시작하기
"Wie misst du deinen Erfolg?"
"Hast du schon mal Fieber gemessen?"
"Kannst du die Breite des Tisches messen?"
"Mit wem würdest du dich gerne messen?"
"Wie misst man Glück?"
일기 주제
Beschreibe einen Moment, in dem du etwas genau messen musstest.
Wie misst du den Fortschritt beim Deutschlernen?
Ist Erfolg messbar? Warum oder warum nicht?
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, it is a strong verb with a vowel change in the present tense (e to i).
Messen is the general act; abmessen often implies measuring a specific portion or length for a purpose.
In German, you say 'Fieber messen'.
Usually, you use 'wiegen' for weight, but 'messen' can be used for the process of quantifying it in scientific contexts.
It means to compete or compare oneself with someone else.
The past participle is 'gemessen'.
It takes 'haben' (e.g., Ich habe gemessen).
Yes, historically trade fairs were places where goods were measured and weighed.
It means to measure the dimensions of a space, like a room.
Yes, 'die Zeit messen' means to measure time, often with a stopwatch.
셀프 테스트 180 질문
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Mastering 'messen' is essential for precision in German. Remember the vowel change in the present tense (e to i) and its versatility in both literal (measuring a room) and metaphorical (measuring success) contexts.
- Messen means to measure physical or abstract values.
- It is an irregular verb: ich messe, du misst, er misst.
- Commonly used in science, construction, and daily health.
- Can also mean to compete when used reflexively (sich messen).
Vowel Change
Remember: ich messe, BUT du misst. The 'e' changes to 'i'.
Prefixes
Learn 'ausmessen' for furniture and 'abmessen' for recipes.
Health
Always use 'messen' for 'Blutdruck' and 'Fieber'.
Construction
In DIY, 'messen' is the most important verb before 'schneiden'.
예시
Können Sie bitte die Temperatur messen?
관련 콘텐츠
general 관련 단어
ab
A1〜부터. '내일부터 공부할 거야.' (Ab morgen werde ich lernen.)
abends
A2저녁에 / 저녁마다. '저녁에 책을 읽어요.'
aber
A1'aber'는 영어의 'but'에 해당하는 단어로, '하지만' 또는 '그러나'라는 뜻입니다.
abgelegen
B1remote
ablehnen
A2제안이나 초대를 거절하다. 그녀는 그의 초대를 거절했다.
abschließen
A2열쇠로 잠그다. 학업을 마치거나 계약을 체결하다.
abseits
A2abseits는 주요 장소나 평소 다니는 길에서 떨어진 곳에 있다는 뜻이에요.
acht
A1숫자 8 (여덟).
Achte
A1여덟 번째 (서수).
achten
A2주의를 기울이다 (auf와 함께) 또는 존경하다.
