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A1 noun #7,000 가장 일반적인 10분 분량

Pech

상위 7,000

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 Pech 30초 만에

설명 Pech in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'Pech' as the opposite of 'Glück'. It means 'bad luck'. You will mostly use it in the phrase 'Pech haben' (to have bad luck) or as an exclamation like 'So ein Pech!' when something small goes wrong, like missing a bus or losing a coin. It is a simple noun, 'das Pech', and it doesn't have a plural. You don't need to worry about complex grammar here; just remember that in German, luck is something you 'have', not something you 'are'. If your ice cream falls down, you say: 'Oh, Pech!'

At the A2 level, you start using 'Pech' in slightly more complex sentences and with common idioms. You should learn 'Pech gehabt!' which is a very common way to say 'Too bad!' or 'Tough luck!'. You might also see it combined with adjectives like 'großes Pech' (big bad luck). You are beginning to understand that 'Pech' is for minor misfortunes. You also learn the word 'Pechvogel' for someone who is always unlucky. At this stage, you should be able to tell a short story about an unlucky day using 'zuerst hatte ich Pech, dann...' (first I had bad luck, then...).

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At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'Pech' in various tenses and contexts. You will encounter compound words like 'Pechsträhne' (a streak of bad luck) and 'pechschwarz' (pitch black). You should understand the difference between 'Pech' (minor bad luck) and 'Unglück' (major disaster or tragedy). You can use 'Pech' to describe situations in more detail, such as 'Es war pures Pech, dass die Sitzung genau dann anfing, als mein Computer abstürzte.' You also start to recognize the word in proverbs like 'Pech im Spiel, Glück in der Liebe.'

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At the B2 level, you understand the nuance and tone of 'Pech'. You know that 'Pech gehabt!' can sound empathetic or dismissive depending on the context. You can use 'Pech' in more abstract discussions about fate and chance. You might use phrases like 'vom Pech verfolgt sein' (to be haunted by bad luck). Your vocabulary includes more specific synonyms like 'Missgeschick' or 'Misserfolg' and you know exactly when to use 'Pech' instead of them. You can also discuss the literal meaning of 'Pech' (pitch/tar) in technical or historical contexts.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated grasp of 'Pech'. You can use it in literary or high-level journalistic contexts. You understand its etymological connection to pitch and how that imagery is used in metaphors. You can identify 'Pech' in complex idiomatic expressions and understand subtle cultural implications, such as the German attitude toward luck and personal responsibility. You might use the word in a debate about whether success is due to 'Fleiß' (hard work) or 'Pech und Glück'. You are also aware of regional variations in how misfortune is expressed.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C2 level, you possess a near-native understanding of 'Pech'. You can appreciate its use in classical literature, poetry, and philosophy. You understand the deep-seated cultural metaphors involving 'Pech und Schwefel' (pitch and sulfur), which implies a strong, indissoluble bond or hellish conditions. You can use the word with perfect precision, choosing it over several dozen synonyms to hit the exact right note of irony, sympathy, or technical accuracy. You are familiar with the most obscure proverbs and can play with the word's double meaning for stylistic effect.

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연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

Pech 30초 만에

Pech is the German word for 'bad luck'.
It is a neuter noun: das Pech.
It also means 'pitch' or 'tar'.
Commonly used in phrases like 'Pech haben' and 'Pech gehabt!'

The German word Pech is a fascinating noun that primarily translates to bad luck or misfortune in everyday conversation. However, its linguistic roots are far stickier than one might initially suspect. Historically and physically, Pech refers to pitch or tar—a thick, black, viscous substance derived from petroleum or plants. This physical property of being sticky and difficult to remove gave rise to the metaphorical meaning of bad luck: once it touches you, it is hard to shake off. In modern German, you will encounter this word in almost every context where things go wrong, from missing a bus to losing a major business deal.

The Literal Substance: In technical contexts, Pech still refers to the black, resinous substance used in road construction or waterproofing. You might hear of 'Pechfackeln' (pitch torches).
The Abstract Concept: This is the most common use. It describes a situation where an outcome is unfavorable due to chance rather than lack of skill. It is the direct opposite of 'Glück' (luck/happiness).
The Interjection: Used as 'Pech gehabt!' it serves as a somewhat blunt way of saying 'That is tough luck' or 'Too bad for you.'

Ich wollte den Zug nehmen, aber er ist mir vor der Nase weggefahren. So ein Pech!

When people use Pech, they are often expressing empathy or acknowledging the randomness of life. If a friend fails an exam by one point, you might say 'Was für ein Pech!' to show you understand it wasn't necessarily their fault. It is a very 'grounded' word; it doesn't sound overly dramatic like 'Katastrophe' (catastrophe), but it carries more weight than a simple 'Schade' (too bad). It implies a certain inevitability of the universe's occasional unkindness.

Culturally, Germans often use 'Pech' to maintain a sense of realism. There is a common phrase, 'Pech im Spiel, Glück in der Liebe' (Bad luck in the game, good luck in love), which is used to console someone who has lost a bet or a game. It suggests a balance in the universe. Understanding 'Pech' is essential for navigating social interactions because it allows you to react appropriately to the minor and major inconveniences of others. It is one of those 'Swiss Army Knife' words in the German language—simple, effective, and deeply embedded in the collective consciousness.

Wir hatten im Urlaub nur Regen. Das war wirklich Pech.

Furthermore, the word appears in several compound nouns that enrich the language. A 'Pechvogel' (pitch bird) is someone who is chronically unlucky, while a 'Pechsträhne' (pitch streak) refers to a long period of consecutive unfortunate events. These colorful expressions show how the concept of 'pitch'—something dark and clinging—continues to influence how Germans think about misfortune. If you are having a 'Pechsträhne', it feels as though you are walking through a streak of tar that slows you down and stains your day.

Pechvogel: Literally 'pitch bird'. Refers to a person who always seems to have bad luck. Example: Hans ist ein echter Pechvogel; erst verliert er seinen Schlüssel, dann bricht sein Fahrrad.

Using Pech correctly requires understanding its grammatical behavior as a neuter noun (das Pech). Since it is largely uncountable when referring to luck, you won't see it in plural forms like 'Peche'. Instead, you modify its intensity using adjectives or specific phrasing. The most common verb associated with it is haben (to have). Unlike in English where you 'are unlucky', in German, you 'have bad luck' (Pech haben).

Ich habe heute einfach nur Pech.

Sentence Structure with 'Haben': Subject + haben + (adverb) + Pech. For example: 'Er hat oft Pech' (He often has bad luck).
Exclamations: 'So ein Pech!' or 'Pech gehabt!' are standalone phrases used to react to someone else's misfortune or your own.

When you want to describe a person who is particularly unlucky, you use the compound noun Pechvogel. This is a very common idiomatic way to describe someone. If the bad luck is persistent, you use Pechsträhne. Note that 'Pech' can also be used as an adjective-like prefix in words like pechschwarz (pitch black), which describes the deepest possible black color, linking back to the physical substance of tar.

Die Katze ist pechschwarz.

In more formal or literary contexts, 'Pech' might be replaced by 'Unglück' if the misfortune is severe (like an accident or a tragedy). 'Pech' is generally reserved for the 'slings and arrows' of daily life—the annoying things that happen by chance. If you lose your wallet, it's Pech. If you lose your house in a flood, it's Unglück. This distinction is vital for sounding like a native speaker.

Intensity Adjectives: Common adjectives used with Pech include: 'unglaubliches' (unbelievable), 'wahnsinniges' (insane), and 'pures' (pure).

Es war pures Pech, dass es genau dann geregnet hat.

You will hear Pech in a wide variety of social settings in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is perhaps most common in casual conversation among friends and family. If someone spills coffee on their shirt right before a meeting, the immediate response from a colleague might be a sympathetic 'Ach, Pech!' or 'So ein Pech aber auch!'. It is a word of solidarity in the face of minor chaos.

Sports and Games: Commentators often use it when a ball hits the post or a player slips. 'Da hatte er einfach Pech beim Abschluss' (He just had bad luck with the finish).
Bureaucracy and Service: If you arrive at a government office one minute after they close, the clerk might say 'Pech gehabt, wir haben jetzt zu' (Bad luck, we are closed now). In this context, it can sound quite dismissive.

In German media, especially in news reports about sports or human interest stories, 'Pech' is used to frame narratives of narrow misses. A lottery winner who loses their ticket is described as having 'unglaubliches Pech'. It’s also frequently found in children's literature, where characters like 'Hans im Glück' are contrasted with those who have constant 'Pech'.

'Selbst schuld, Pech gehabt!' rief der Junge auf dem Spielplatz.

In pop culture, you might find the word in song lyrics or movie titles. The idea of the 'Pechvogel' is a recurring trope in German comedy, where a protagonist stumbles from one unlucky situation to the next. This slapstick humor relies heavily on the audience's understanding of 'Pech' as an external force acting upon a well-meaning but hapless individual.

In der Zeitung stand: 'Fußball-Nationalteam hat Pech im Elfmeterschießen.'

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is trying to use 'Pech' as an adjective. In English, we say 'I am unlucky.' If you translate this literally into German as 'Ich bin pechig,' you will be met with confused looks because 'pechig' is not a standard word (though 'pechrabenschwarz' exists for color). Remember: in German, you have luck or bad luck, you aren't luck or bad luck.

Mistake: 'Ich bin Pech': Correct: 'Ich habe Pech.' (I have bad luck.)
Mistake: 'Ein schlechtes Pech': Correct: Just 'Pech'. Since Pech already means bad luck, adding 'schlecht' (bad) is redundant, like saying 'bad bad luck'.

Another common error is confusing Pech with Unglück. While they both relate to misfortune, 'Unglück' is much heavier. Using 'Unglück' for a missed bus sounds overly dramatic, like you are mourning a death. Conversely, using 'Pech' for a serious car accident might sound insensitive, as if you are trivializing the event. 'Pech' is for the small stuff; 'Unglück' is for the big stuff.

Falsch: Mein Haus ist abgebrannt, was für ein Pech! (Too light). Richtig: Das ist ein großes Unglück.

Finally, learners often struggle with the phrase 'Pech gehabt'. Depending on the tone, this can be sympathetic or very rude. If said with a shrug to someone who missed a deadline, it means 'Sucks for you, deal with it.' If said with a sigh to a friend who lost their keys, it means 'Oh, that's too bad.' Be careful with your intonation!

Using 'Ein': Learners often say 'Ich hatte ein Pech.' While 'So ein Pech!' is a fixed idiom, usually you don't use 'ein' with Pech in a standard sentence. Just say 'Ich hatte Pech.'

While Pech is the go-to word for bad luck, German offers several alternatives that allow for more precision. Depending on whether you want to sound more formal, more dramatic, or more casual, you might choose one of the following synonyms. Understanding the nuances between these words will greatly improve your fluency.

Unglück: Comparison: Much stronger than Pech. Refers to disaster, tragedy, or deep unhappiness. You have 'Pech' when you lose a game, but you suffer 'Unglück' in a catastrophe.
Missgeschick: Comparison: More focused on a specific clumsy mistake or a minor mishap. If you trip and fall, it's a Missgeschick. It implies a lack of skill or attention, whereas Pech implies external fate.
Misere: Comparison: Refers to a miserable state of affairs or a plight. It describes a long-term situation of hardship rather than a single unlucky event.

Es war ein kleines Missgeschick, kein echtes Pech.

In a professional setting, you might use unvorteilhafte Umstände (unfavorable circumstances) to describe bad luck without sounding too colloquial. In a very casual setting, you might hear Mist (literally 'manure') used as an exclamation when something goes wrong, though this is more of a swear word than a synonym for luck.

When discussing the opposite of Pech, Glück is the only word you need. However, remember that 'Glück' means both 'luck' and 'happiness'. Context is key. If someone says 'Ich habe Glück,' they mean they are lucky. If they say 'Ich bin glücklich,' they mean they are happy. There is no such distinction for Pech, as there is no 'pechlich' for 'unlucky-happy'.

Pech vs. Misserfolg: 'Misserfolg' means failure. You can have 'Pech' that leads to a 'Misserfolg', but 'Pech' is the cause (luck) and 'Misserfolg' is the result (failure).

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The transition from 'sticky substance' to 'bad luck' happened because bad luck was envisioned as something dark and sticky that you couldn't get rid of.

발음 가이드

UK /pɛç/

US /pɛk/

The word is a single syllable, so the stress is on the entire word.

라임이 맞는 단어

blech frech rech zech spech kech hech mech

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing the 'ch' like 'k' (as in 'peck').
Pronouncing the 'ch' like 'sh' (as in 'pesh').
Using a long 'e' sound.

난이도

독해 1/5

Easy to recognize in texts as it is short and unique.

쓰기 2/5

Easy, but remember it is neuter and uncountable.

말하기 3/5

The 'ch' sound can be tricky for English speakers.

듣기 2/5

Clear sound, often used in exclamations.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

Glück haben schwarz Vogel

다음에 배울 것

Unglück Missgeschick Schicksal Zufall

고급

Pech und Schwefel Pechsträhne pechschwarz

알아야 할 문법

Nouns ending in -ch usually take the 'ich-Laut' after 'e', 'i', 'ä', 'ö', 'ü'.

Pech, frech, Teppich.

Uncountable nouns do not use an indefinite article 'ein' in the singular usually, except in exclamations.

Ich habe Pech (not: ein Pech). But: So ein Pech!

Compound nouns take the gender of the last word.

Der Pechvogel (Vogel is masculine).

Adjectives like 'pechschwarz' are formed by Noun + Adjective.

Pech + schwarz.

The verb 'haben' is used for states of luck/misfortune.

Ich habe Pech.

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수준별 예문

Ich habe Pech.

I have bad luck.

'Haben' is the verb used with 'Pech'.

So ein Pech!

Such bad luck!

Common exclamation with 'so ein'.

Hast du Pech?

Are you having bad luck?

Simple question structure.

Das ist Pech.

That is bad luck.

Using 'sein' to describe a situation.

Pech gehabt!

Bad luck! / Too bad!

Past participle used as an idiom.

Kein Pech heute.

No bad luck today.

Negation with 'kein'.

Pech im Spiel.

Bad luck in the game.

Part of a famous proverb.

Oh nein, Pech!

Oh no, bad luck!

Interjection use.

Er ist ein Pechvogel.

He is an unlucky person.

Compound noun: Pech + Vogel.

Wir hatten großes Pech im Urlaub.

We had great bad luck on vacation.

Adjective 'groß' declension.

Pech gehabt, die Tür ist zu.

Tough luck, the door is closed.

Idiomatic use in a sentence.

Warum hast du immer Pech?

Why do you always have bad luck?

Use of frequency adverb 'immer'.

Das war wirklich Pech.

That was really bad luck.

Emphasis with 'wirklich'.

Ich will kein Pech haben.

I don't want to have bad luck.

Modal verb 'wollen' + 'haben'.

Sie hatte Pech mit dem Wetter.

She had bad luck with the weather.

Preposition 'mit' + dative.

Pech kann jedem passieren.

Bad luck can happen to anyone.

Verb 'passieren' with dative 'jedem'.

Ich habe eine richtige Pechsträhne.

I have a real streak of bad luck.

Compound noun: Pech + Strähne.

Das Auto ist pechschwarz.

The car is pitch black.

Adjective meaning 'very black'.

Es ist pures Pech, dass er krank ist.

It is pure bad luck that he is sick.

Adjective 'pur' used for emphasis.

Trotz des Pechs blieb er optimistisch.

Despite the bad luck, he remained optimistic.

Genitive case after 'trotz'.

Manche Leute ziehen das Pech magisch an.

Some people attract bad luck magically.

Metaphorical use of 'anziehen'.

Pech im Spiel, Glück in der Liebe.

Bad luck in the game, good luck in love.

Full proverb.

Hattest du schon mal Pech beim Reisen?

Have you ever had bad luck while traveling?

Perfect tense with 'schon mal'.

Das war kein Zufall, das war Pech.

That wasn't a coincidence, that was bad luck.

Contrastive sentence structure.

Er scheint vom Pech verfolgt zu sein.

He seems to be haunted/pursued by bad luck.

Passive-like construction with 'verfolgt'.

Das Pech klebt ihm an den Fingern.

Bad luck sticks to his fingers.

Idiom relating back to the literal meaning of pitch.

Wir müssen das Pech einfach akzeptieren.

We simply have to accept the bad luck.

Modal verb 'müssen'.

Es war ein unglaubliches Pech, den Termin zu verpassen.

It was unbelievable bad luck to miss the appointment.

Infinitive clause with 'zu'.

Pech gehabt, wer zu spät kommt.

Tough luck for whoever comes too late.

Relative clause starting with 'wer'.

Das Projekt scheiterte an einer Verkettung von Pech.

The project failed due to a chain of bad luck.

Noun 'Verkettung' (chain/linking).

Sie lachte über ihr eigenes Pech.

She laughed at her own bad luck.

Preposition 'über' + accusative.

Pech ist oft nur eine Frage der Perspektive.

Bad luck is often just a matter of perspective.

Abstract philosophical statement.

Die Pechfackeln erhellten den dunklen Pfad.

The pitch torches lit up the dark path.

Literal use of Pech (pitch).

Er schlitterte von einem Pech ins nächste.

He slid from one piece of bad luck into the next.

Metaphorical use of 'schlittern'.

Das Pech der anderen ist oft unser Gewinn.

The bad luck of others is often our gain.

Genitive 'der anderen'.

Ihre Pechsträhne scheint kein Ende zu nehmen.

Her streak of bad luck seems to have no end.

Idiomatic expression for persistence.

Es ist eine Ironie des Schicksals, so viel Pech zu haben.

It is an irony of fate to have so much bad luck.

Complex noun phrase.

Das Pech ist ein ständiger Begleiter des Wagemutigen.

Bad luck is a constant companion of the daring.

Nominalized adjective 'des Wagemutigen'.

Pechschwarze Wolken zogen am Horizont auf.

Pitch-black clouds gathered on the horizon.

Adjective used for atmosphere.

Man sollte das Pech nicht heraufbeschwören.

One should not summon/invoke bad luck.

Verb 'heraufbeschwören'.

Das Schicksal hielt eine bittere Dosis Pech für ihn bereit.

Fate had a bitter dose of bad luck ready for him.

Literary personification of fate.

In der Alchemie wurde Pech oft als unreine Substanz betrachtet.

In alchemy, pitch was often regarded as an impure substance.

Historical/Technical context.

Wie Pech und Schwefel hielten sie in der Not zusammen.

They stuck together like pitch and sulfur in times of need.

Fixed idiom for a strong bond.

Das Pech der Existenz liegt in ihrer Unvorhersehbarkeit.

The misfortune of existence lies in its unpredictability.

Abstract genitive construction.

Er suhlte sich förmlich in seinem Pech.

He literally wallowed in his bad luck.

Metaphorical verb 'suhlen'.

Eine Nuance von Pech schwang in seiner Erzählung mit.

A nuance of misfortune resonated in his narrative.

Subtle metaphorical use.

Das Pech ist die Kehrseite der Medaille des Erfolgs.

Bad luck is the flip side of the coin of success.

Idiomatic metaphor.

Durch eine Verkettung unglücklicher Umstände und schieren Pechs...

Through a concatenation of unfortunate circumstances and sheer bad luck...

High-level formal introductory phrase.

자주 쓰는 조합

Pech haben

Pech gehabt

großes Pech

pures Pech

unglaubliches Pech

Pech bringen

Pech anziehen

vom Pech verfolgt

Pech im Spiel

Pechsträhne haben

자주 쓰는 구문

So ein Pech!

— What bad luck! Used as a sympathetic exclamation.

So ein Pech, dass es regnet!

Pech für dich.

— Too bad for you. Can be empathetic or slightly mean.

Pech für dich, wenn du nicht zuhörst.

Pech und Schwefel

— Pitch and sulfur. Usually used as 'zusammenhalten wie Pech und Schwefel' (to stick together through thick and thin).

Die beiden halten zusammen wie Pech und Schwefel.

Selbst schuld, Pech gehabt!

— Your own fault, tough luck! A blunt way to dismiss someone's complaint.

Du hast nicht gelernt? Selbst schuld, Pech gehabt!

Das Pech klebt einem an den Fersen.

— Bad luck is following someone closely.

Heute klebt mir das Pech an den Fersen.

Vom Pech begünstigt sein.

— An ironic way to say someone is very unlucky.

Er scheint vom Pech begünstigt zu sein.

Ein Quäntchen Pech.

— A tiny bit of bad luck.

Ein Quäntchen Pech verhinderte den Sieg.

In die Pechtonne greifen.

— To reach into the barrel of bad luck (to be very unlucky).

Da hast du aber voll in die Pechtonne gegriffen.

Pechschwarz sehen.

— To see things very pessimistically (like 'black').

Du musst nicht gleich alles pechschwarz sehen.

Das ist reines Pech.

— That is nothing but bad luck.

Dass der Reifen platzt, ist reines Pech.

자주 혼동되는 단어

Pech vs Unglück

Unglück is for serious tragedy, Pech is for bad luck.

Pech vs Schade

Schade means 'pity' or 'too bad', while Pech describes the luck itself.

Pech vs Mist

Mist is a mild swear word, Pech is a description of fate.

관용어 및 표현

"Pechvogel"

— A person who is constantly unlucky.

Er ist ein echter Pechvogel.

informal

"Pechsträhne"

— A streak of bad luck.

Meine Pechsträhne hört nicht auf.

neutral

"Pech im Spiel, Glück in der Liebe"

— If you lose at games, you will be lucky in romance.

Kopf hoch, Pech im Spiel, Glück in der Liebe!

neutral

"Zusammenhalten wie Pech und Schwefel"

— To be inseparable and loyal.

Wir halten zusammen wie Pech und Schwefel.

neutral

"Pechschwarz"

— As black as pitch.

Die Nacht war pechschwarz.

neutral

"Pechmarie"

— A character from 'Frau Holle' who is lazy and gets covered in pitch.

Sei keine Pechmarie, hilf mir!

literary/cultural

"Vom Pech verfolgt sein"

— To have constant bad luck.

Seit Wochen ist er vom Pech verfolgt.

neutral

"Das Pech an den Hacken haben"

— To have bad luck sticking to one's heels.

Er hat heute das Pech an den Hacken.

informal

"Pech gehabt!"

— Tough luck / That's just the way it is.

Nicht gewonnen? Pech gehabt!

informal

"Sich wie Pech und Schwefel gleichen"

— To be very similar or belong together.

Die Brüder gleichen sich wie Pech und Schwefel.

neutral

혼동하기 쉬운

Pech vs Glück

Opposite meanings.

Glück is luck/happiness, Pech is bad luck.

Ich habe Glück, du hast Pech.

Pech vs Teer

Literal meaning of Pech.

Teer (tar) is industrial, Pech (pitch) is natural/metaphorical.

Die Straße riecht nach Teer.

Pech vs Unglück

Both mean misfortune.

Unglück is severe/tragic, Pech is minor/random.

Ein Unglück kommt selten allein.

Pech vs Missgeschick

Both involve things going wrong.

Missgeschick is a clumsy act, Pech is bad luck.

Ein Missgeschick beim Kochen.

Pech vs Pechschwarz

Used as a color.

It describes the intensity of black, not luck.

Ihre Augen sind pechschwarz.

문장 패턴

Ich habe Pech.

Ich habe Pech heute.

Pech gehabt!

Pech gehabt, der Laden ist zu.

So ein Pech mit dem [Nomen].

So ein Pech mit dem Wetter.

[Name] ist ein Pechvogel.

Hans ist ein Pechvogel.

Vom Pech verfolgt sein.

Er scheint vom Pech verfolgt.

Pures Pech sein.

Es war pures Pech, dass es passierte.

Eine Verkettung von Pech.

Eine Verkettung von Pech führte zum Aus.

Zusammenhalten wie Pech und Schwefel.

Wir hielten wie Pech und Schwefel zusammen.

어휘 가족

명사

Pechvogel

Pechsträhne

Pechfackel

Pechmarie

Pechkohle

동사

pechen (rare: to coat with pitch)

형용사

pechschwarz

pechig (rare)

사용법

frequency

Very high in daily speech.

자주 하는 실수

Ich bin pechig. → Ich habe Pech.
Pech is a noun, not an adjective you can apply to yourself like 'unlucky'.
Ein schlechtes Pech. → Pech.
Pech already means bad luck, so 'schlecht' is redundant.
Ich hatte ein Pech. → Ich hatte Pech.
Pech is uncountable; you don't use 'ein' in a standard statement.
Das war ein großes Unglück (for a lost pen). → Das war Pech.
Unglück is too dramatic for losing a pen.
Pech gehabt! (to someone who lost a loved one) → Mein herzliches Beileid.
Pech gehabt is way too trivial and can be offensive in serious situations.

팁

No 'Ein'

Usually, don't use 'ein' with Pech. Say 'Ich habe Pech,' not 'Ich habe ein Pech.' The only exception is the exclamation 'So ein Pech!'

Soft CH

The 'ch' in Pech is the soft 'ich-Laut'. Make sure it sounds like a hiss, not a 'k' sound.

Pechvogel

Learn 'Pechvogel' early. It's a very 'German' way to describe someone and makes you sound more fluent.

Stoicism

Germans often use 'Pech' to accept things they can't change. It's part of a pragmatic, stoic worldview.

Pech vs. Schade

'Schade' is an adjective/interjection (That's a pity). 'Pech' is the noun (bad luck). Use 'Pech' for the cause and 'Schade' for the feeling.

Pech und Schwefel

This idiom refers to a very strong friendship. It's a great one to use for best friends.

Pechsträhne

If you want to describe a really bad week, use 'Pechsträhne'. It sounds much better than just saying 'Pech' many times.

Sports Context

If you watch German football, listen for 'Pech'. You'll hear it every time someone hits the goalpost.

Pitch Black

Connect 'Pech' to 'Pitch' (tar). They sound similar and have the same literal meaning.

Sympathy

Saying 'Ach, Pech!' is a quick and easy way to show sympathy for small accidents.

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기억법

Think of 'PITCH'. If you fall in PITCH (tar), you are having very bad luck because you are stuck and messy. PECH sounds like PITCH.

시각적 연상

Imagine a black bird (Pechvogel) covered in sticky black tar, trying to fly but failing. This is the essence of Pech.

Word Web

Glück Unglück Schwarz Klebrig Teer Schicksal Zufall Vogel

챌린지

Try to use 'Pech gehabt' three times today when something minor goes wrong, even if just in your head.

어원

Derived from the Old High German 'peh', which comes from the Latin 'pix' (genitive 'picis'), meaning pitch or tar.

원래 의미: A thick, dark, sticky substance obtained from wood or petroleum.

Indo-European -> Germanic -> West Germanic -> German.

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Be careful: 'Pech gehabt' can sound very unsympathetic if said to someone suffering a genuine tragedy.

In English, we say 'tough luck' or 'bad luck'. The German 'Pech' is much more common and can be used for even smaller inconveniences.

Frau Holle (Grimm Fairy Tale) Pech & Schwefel (German Rock Band) Pechvogel (Common character trope)

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Games/Gambling

Pech im Spiel.
Ich habe heute kein Pech.
Verloren? Pech gehabt!
Eine Pechsträhne beim Poker.

Travel

Pech mit dem Zug.
Das war pures Pech am Flughafen.
So ein Pech mit dem Wetter!
Pech beim Buchen.

Daily Accidents

Schlüssel weg? Pech gehabt.
Pech mit dem Handy.
Ich bin ein Pechvogel.
Was für ein Pech!

Work/School

Pech bei der Prüfung.
Ein Quäntchen Pech war dabei.
Vom Pech verfolgt im Projekt.
Das ist einfach Pech.

Colors/Descriptions

Pechschwarze Haare.
Es ist pechschwarz draußen.
Ein pechschwarzer Tag.
Pechfackeln benutzen.

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"Hattest du heute schon Pech?"

"Bist du eher ein Glückspilz oder ein Pechvogel?"

"Was war dein größtes Pech im Urlaub?"

"Glaubst du, dass manche Gegenstände Pech bringen?"

"Was sagst du, wenn ein Freund Pech hat?"

일기 주제

Schreibe über einen Tag, an dem du viel Pech hattest.

Ist Pech nur Zufall oder Schicksal?

Was ist der Unterschied zwischen Pech und einem Fehler?

Beschreibe eine Situation, in der aus Pech doch noch etwas Gutes wurde.

Warum sagen wir 'Pech im Spiel, Glück in der Liebe'?

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No, that is a common mistake. In German, you 'have' bad luck, so you must say 'Ich habe Pech.' Saying 'Ich bin Pech' would mean 'I am the substance pitch.'

It can be. If you say it with a smile to a friend, it's sympathetic. If you say it coldly to someone who made a mistake, it means 'Tough luck, not my problem.'

A 'Pechvogel' (pitch bird) is a person who always seems to have bad luck. It's a very common and slightly funny way to describe an unlucky person.

The word is 'pechschwarz'. It combines 'Pech' (pitch/tar) and 'schwarz' (black).

No, as an abstract noun meaning 'bad luck', it is uncountable and has no plural form.

'Pech' is for small, everyday bad luck (like missing a bus). 'Unglück' is for big, serious things (like a natural disaster or a death).

It's a proverb that means if you are unlucky in gambling or games, you will have good luck in your romantic life. It's a way to cheer someone up after a loss.

It comes from the Latin word 'pix', meaning pitch. The dark, sticky nature of pitch became a metaphor for bad luck that sticks to you.

Yes, but keep it neutral. 'Wir hatten leider Pech mit dem Timing' is fine. If it's a very serious failure, use more formal words like 'Misserfolg'.

There isn't a single verb like 'to unlucky'. You always use the phrase 'Pech haben'.

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