15秒了解
- To trail behind physically or metaphorically in progress.
- A separable verb: 'hinterher' moves to the end.
- Often used for technology, fashion, or work schedules.
意思
Imagine you're walking with friends who have long legs, and you're struggling to keep up. It means to trail behind someone or something, either physically or because you're slower to progress, like with work or technology.
关键例句
3 / 6Hiking with fast friends
Wartet auf mich, ich hinke euch immer hinterher!
Wait for me, I'm always lagging behind you!
Discussing a work project
Wir hinken dem Zeitplan leider zwei Wochen hinterher.
Unfortunately, we are lagging two weeks behind the schedule.
Texting about a popular TV show
Ich hinke bei der Serie total hinterher, bitte keine Spoiler!
I'm totally lagging behind on the series, please no spoilers!
文化背景
The phrase is a staple in German political discourse, especially regarding 'Digitalisierung'. It reflects a fear of losing 'Vorsprung durch Technik'. Teachers use this to describe students who need 'Förderunterricht' (remedial classes). It's a call to action for parents. In German companies, 'hinterherhinken' is a serious warning sign in 'Quartalsberichten' (quarterly reports). Journalists love this word because it creates a vivid image of a struggling entity in a competitive world.
Dative is Key
Always remember: hinken + DATIV. If you forget the case, the sentence sounds very broken to Germans.
Don't use 'haben'
Even though it feels like an action, it's a movement verb in the perfect tense. Use 'sein'.
15秒了解
- To trail behind physically or metaphorically in progress.
- A separable verb: 'hinterher' moves to the end.
- Often used for technology, fashion, or work schedules.
What It Means
At its heart, hinterherhinken describes the act of falling behind. The word hinken actually means 'to limp.' So, when you use this phrase, you aren't just slow. You are metaphorically 'limping' while everyone else is running ahead. It’s that annoying feeling of being two steps behind the crowd. You can use it for your slow friend on a hike. You can also use it for a company that doesn't have a website yet.
How To Use It
This is a separable verb. That means the hinterher part flies to the end of the sentence. For example: 'Ich hinke dem Trend hinterher.' You usually use it with the dative case. You are lagging behind *something* (dem Zeitplan, der Konkurrenz). It sounds very natural in both speech and writing. Just remember to split it unless it's at the end of a subordinate clause!
When To Use It
Use it when you feel overwhelmed by a pace. In a meeting, use it if a project is late. If you're texting a friend about a TV show everyone has seen but you, it fits perfectly. It’s great for talking about technology or fashion. If your parents still use a fax machine, they are definitely hinterherhinken. It adds a bit of visual flavor to your description of being late.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for a simple one-time lateness. If you are 5 minutes late for coffee, you are zu spät. You aren't hinterherhinken. This phrase implies a process or a continuous state of being behind. Also, avoid it in very tragic contexts. Since it contains the word for 'limp,' using it for someone with a serious physical injury might sound insensitive unless you mean it literally.
Cultural Background
Germans are famous for their love of efficiency and punctuality. Because of this, hinterherhinken carries a bit of a 'get it together' vibe. In German news, you will constantly hear it regarding 'Digitalisierung' (digitization). There is a national anxiety about Germany lagging behind other countries in tech. Using this word taps into that very German fear of losing your competitive edge.
Common Variations
You might hear hinterher sein, which is simpler but less descriptive. Another one is zurückbleiben, which just means to stay behind. If you want to sound more formal, you could use im Rückstand sein. But hinterherhinken is the most colorful way to say it. It paints a picture of the struggle to catch up.
使用说明
The verb is highly versatile and used across all levels of society. It is particularly common in business German to describe market positions or project statuses.
Dative is Key
Always remember: hinken + DATIV. If you forget the case, the sentence sounds very broken to Germans.
Don't use 'haben'
Even though it feels like an action, it's a movement verb in the perfect tense. Use 'sein'.
Business Context
Use this in interviews to show you understand market dynamics. It sounds very professional.
The 'Limp' Metaphor
Germans appreciate the vividness of this word. It shows you have a 'feel' for the language's imagery.
例句
6Wartet auf mich, ich hinke euch immer hinterher!
Wait for me, I'm always lagging behind you!
Used here in a literal, physical sense.
Wir hinken dem Zeitplan leider zwei Wochen hinterher.
Unfortunately, we are lagging two weeks behind the schedule.
Very common in office environments.
Ich hinke bei der Serie total hinterher, bitte keine Spoiler!
I'm totally lagging behind on the series, please no spoilers!
Casual way to say you haven't watched recent episodes.
Meine Oma hinkt der modernen Technik ein bisschen hinterher.
My grandma is lagging a bit behind modern technology.
A gentle, slightly humorous observation.
Die Schulen hinken bei der Digitalisierung massiv hinterher.
The schools are massively lagging behind in digitization.
Typical journalistic use of the phrase.
Manchmal habe ich das Gefühl, meinen eigenen Zielen hinterherzuhinken.
Sometimes I feel like I'm lagging behind my own goals.
Used here for internal, personal progress.
自我测试
Fill in the correct form of 'hinterherhinken' and the correct article.
Die Firma ______ ______ (Dative) Entwicklung ______.
Separable verb 'hinkt... hinterher' and Dative feminine 'der Entwicklung'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct in the perfect tense?
A: Wir haben dem Zeitplan hinterhergehinkt. B: Wir sind dem Zeitplan hinterhergehinkt.
Verbs of movement use 'sein' as the auxiliary verb.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Warum hast du die Hausaufgaben nicht? B: Ich ______ ______ ______ ______.
'Ihnen' is the dative plural pronoun for 'Hausaufgaben'.
Match the sentence to the context.
1. 'Die Löhne hinken hinterher.' 2. 'Ich hinke beim Wandern hinterher.'
'Löhne' (wages) refers to economics; 'Wandern' (hiking) is physical.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
练习题库
4 练习Die Firma ______ ______ (Dative) Entwicklung ______.
Separable verb 'hinkt... hinterher' and Dative feminine 'der Entwicklung'.
A: Wir haben dem Zeitplan hinterhergehinkt. B: Wir sind dem Zeitplan hinterhergehinkt.
Verbs of movement use 'sein' as the auxiliary verb.
A: Warum hast du die Hausaufgaben nicht? B: Ich ______ ______ ______ ______.
'Ihnen' is the dative plural pronoun for 'Hausaufgaben'.
1. 'Die Löhne hinken hinterher.' 2. 'Ich hinke beim Wandern hinterher.'
'Löhne' (wages) refers to economics; 'Wandern' (hiking) is physical.
🎉 得分： /4
常见问题
10 个问题Not necessarily, but it is a critique. Use it for systems, companies, or your own work, but be careful when describing other people's personal progress.
No, a train has 'Verspätung'. You only use 'hinterherhinken' if you are comparing the train's technology to a faster one.
'Zurückbleiben' is more neutral. 'Hinterherhinken' implies that you are trying to keep up but failing.
Yes, very often! When a team is lower in the table than expected, they 'hinken den Erwartungen hinterher'.
Präteritum: ich hinkte hinterher. Perfekt: ich bin hinterhergehinkt.
Yes, if someone is still wearing old trends, they 'hinken der Mode hinterher'.
Yes. 'Ich hinke hinterher.' The prefix moves to the end.
It always takes the Dative case for the object you are lagging behind.
Yes, if the context is clear. 'Alle laufen schnell, nur ich hinke hinterher.'
It is neutral to formal. You will find it in high-quality newspapers like 'Die Zeit'.
相关表达
zurückbleiben
synonymTo stay behind
den Anschluss verlieren
builds onTo lose the connection/link
nachstehen
similarTo be inferior to
aufholen
contrastTo catch up
im Rückstand sein
specialized formTo be in arrears
