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A2 verb #4,000 最常用 14分钟阅读

sinken

前4,000

开始练习例句笔记与提示 sinken 30秒了解

解析 sinken in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know the most basic meaning of sinken: to go down. You will mostly use it in very simple sentences about the weather or simple physical movements. For example, 'Die Sonne sinkt' (The sun is going down) or 'Das Schiff sinkt' (The ship is sinking). It is important to remember that this word is about something moving down on its own. You don't 'sink' your coffee cup; it might 'sink' in a pool of water if you drop it. At this stage, don't worry too much about the complicated past forms like 'sank' or 'gesunken' yet. Just focus on the present tense: 'ich sinke, du sinkst, er/sie/es sinkt'. One very common phrase you might hear is 'Die Temperatur sinkt,' which is useful when talking about the weather. Remember that it is the opposite of 'steigen' (to rise). If you can remember that 'steigen' is up and 'sinken' is down, you have already mastered the most important part of this word for a beginner. Try to picture a submarine going down into the ocean to remember the meaning. It is a slow, steady movement. Also, notice that we don't use 'haben' with this word in the past; we use 'sein'. So, you would say 'Es ist gesunken' (It has sunk). This is a special rule for verbs that show a change of place. Even if you don't use the past tense much yet, keeping this 'sein' rule in mind will help you later. Focus on simple, concrete things like ships, the sun, and temperature. These are the most helpful examples for an A1 learner. Avoid using it for things like 'falling off a chair'—for that, use 'fallen'. Sinken is more for things going through water or air gradually, or for numbers getting smaller.

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At the A2 level, you should start using sinken to describe trends and changes in values. This is where the word becomes very useful in daily life. You will hear it in news reports or read it in simple articles. For example, 'Die Preise sinken' (Prices are falling) or 'Die Zahl der Teilnehmer sinkt' (The number of participants is decreasing). At this level, you must learn the perfect tense: ist gesunken. Remember to use 'sein' because sinken indicates a change of state or position. For example: 'Die Temperatur ist gestern stark gesunken' (The temperature dropped sharply yesterday). You should also be aware of the difference between sinken (it happens by itself) and senken (someone does it). At A2, you might not use senken perfectly yet, but you should recognize that 'Die Preise sinken' is about the prices themselves, while 'Der Laden senkt die Preise' is about the shop owner doing something. You can also use sinken for physical exhaustion, like 'Er sank in den Stuhl' (He sank into the chair). This adds more flavor to your descriptions. Another important point is using prepositions like 'auf' and 'um'. 'Die Temperatur sank auf 5 Grad' means it is now 5 degrees. 'Die Temperatur sank um 5 Grad' means it became 5 degrees colder than before. Learning this distinction is a great way to improve your accuracy. You will also encounter the word in simple nautical contexts, like stories about ships. Practice the conjugation: sinken, sinkt, sank, ist gesunken. Even if 'sank' is mostly for writing, knowing it will help you read stories. Focus on making sentences about your daily life: 'Mein Kontostand sinkt' (My bank balance is sinking) or 'Die Lust zum Lernen sinkt am Abend' (The desire to study decreases in the evening).

By the B1 level, you are expected to use sinken in a wider variety of abstract contexts and with better grammatical precision. You should be comfortable using it to describe social and economic trends. For instance, 'Die Arbeitslosigkeit ist im letzten Jahr kontinuierlich gesunken' (Unemployment has steadily decreased over the last year). At this stage, you should also be very clear on the distinction between sinken and senken. A B1 student should never say 'Ich habe die Preise gesunken'; they should know it is 'Ich habe die Preise gesenkt' (transitive) or 'Die Preise sind gesunken' (intransitive). You will also start encountering more figurative uses, such as 'jemandem in die Arme sinken' (to fall into someone's arms) or 'das Niveau sinkt' (the standard/level is dropping). These expressions are common in literature and more advanced conversations. You should also be familiar with the simple past form 'sank' for reading newspapers and books. For example, 'Die Sonne sank hinter die Berge' (The sun sank behind the mountains). Understanding the nuances between sinken and other verbs like abnehmen or fallen is also important. While abnehmen is often for weight or intensity, sinken is the standard for levels and statistical values. You can also use it to describe a person's voice: 'Ihre Stimme sank zu einem Flüstern' (Her voice sank to a whisper). This level of detail makes your German sound more natural and sophisticated. Pay attention to the use of 'sinkend' as an adjective, such as 'bei sinkenden Temperaturen' (with falling temperatures). This is a common way to provide context in a sentence. Practice writing short reports or summaries of news where you describe things increasing (steigen) and decreasing (sinken). This will solidify your understanding of these two essential opposites.

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At the B2 level, sinken should be a tool you use with high precision in professional and academic contexts. You will use it to analyze data, discuss politics, and describe complex physical processes. You should be able to use it in passive-like constructions or as a participle: 'die gesunkenen Kosten' (the decreased costs). At this level, you are expected to understand the difference between sinken and more specific verbs like nachlassen (to ease up/diminish) or stürzen (to crash/plunge). For example, if you are discussing the stock market, you would distinguish between a 'sinkender Kurs' (a falling rate) and a 'stürzender Kurs' (a crashing rate). You should also be familiar with idiomatic expressions and more formal synonyms like zurückgehen or sich verringern. In a business presentation, you might say, 'Trotz unserer Bemühungen sank der Marktanteil' (Despite our efforts, the market share fell). You should also be able to use the verb in more complex sentence structures, such as 'Nachdem die Preise gesunken waren, kauften mehr Menschen das Produkt' (After the prices had fallen, more people bought the product). This requires mastery of the pluperfect tense with 'sein'. Furthermore, you should recognize the word in poetic or high-level literary contexts, such as 'in Schlaf sinken' (to fall into sleep) or 'in Vergessenheit sinken' (to sink into oblivion/be forgotten). These metaphorical uses are common in essays and high-quality journalism. You should also be aware of the nuances of 'versinken', which implies a more complete submergence, and be able to choose between sinken and versinken correctly. For instance, 'Das Schiff sank' (The ship was going down) vs. 'Das Schiff versank im Meer' (The ship disappeared into the sea). Your ability to use these verbs accurately reflects your transition into an independent and proficient user of German.

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At the C1 level, your understanding of sinken should include its most subtle nuances and its role in sophisticated rhetorical structures. You will encounter the verb in academic papers, philosophical texts, and high-level literature where it often carries heavy metaphorical weight. For example, it might describe the 'sinkende Moral' (declining morals) of a society or the 'sinkende Stern' (fading star) of a politician. You should be able to use the verb to describe very specific scientific phenomena, such as the 'Sinkgeschwindigkeit' (rate of descent/sedimentation) of particles in a fluid. In legal or highly formal contexts, you might see sinken used to describe the expiration or lowering of claims or rights. Your mastery of the 'sinken' vs. 'senken' distinction should be absolute, and you should also be able to use related verbs like absenken (to lower/subside) or einsinken (to sink in/collapse) with precision. For instance, 'Der Boden ist an dieser Stelle eingesunken' (The ground has caved in at this spot). You should also be comfortable using the verb in the subjunctive mood for hypothetical scenarios: 'Wären die Zinsen nicht gesunken, hätten wir das Haus nicht gekauft' (If the interest rates hadn't fallen, we wouldn't have bought the house). At this level, you can also appreciate the rhythm and sound of the word in poetry, where the 's' and 'nk' sounds can create a sense of quiet or heaviness. You should be able to discuss the etymology or the relationship of the word to other Germanic languages if necessary. Your vocabulary should also include more obscure synonyms like degradieren (in certain contexts) or erlahmen (for interest or energy). Overall, at C1, sinken is no longer just a word for 'going down'; it is a precise instrument for describing a multitude of physical, statistical, and metaphorical processes with absolute clarity and stylistic appropriateness.

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By the C2 level, you have attained a near-native command of sinken and its entire lexical field. You understand not only its primary and secondary meanings but also its historical development and its place in the great works of German literature. You can use it with effortless precision in any context, from a technical engineering report to a lyrical poem. You are familiar with rare and archaic uses, such as 'in die Grube sinken' (an old-fashioned way to say 'to die' or 'to be buried'). You can distinguish between the most minute differences in meaning, such as why a writer might choose 'sinken' over 'fallen' to create a specific mood of inevitability or grace. In high-level debates, you can use the word to describe complex sociological or macroeconomic phenomena: 'Die sinkende Grenznutzenkurve' (the law of diminishing marginal utility) or 'das Sinken des gesellschaftlichen Konsenses' (the erosion of social consensus). You are also a master of the verb's prefixes: versinken, absinken, einsinken, zusammensinken. You know that 'er sank in sich zusammen' describes a total physical and emotional collapse, while 'er versank in Schwermut' describes a deep, immersive state of melancholy. Your use of the verb in the passive voice (though rare for sinken as an intransitive verb, it can appear in specialized constructions or as a gerundive) is flawless. You can also analyze the word's usage in the works of Goethe, Schiller, or Kafka, where the act of sinking often symbolizes a character's internal journey or their surrender to fate. At C2, the word sinken is a fully integrated part of your linguistic repertoire, allowing you to express the finest shades of meaning with elegance and authority. You are capable of teaching the nuances of this word to others, explaining why 'sein' is the only possible auxiliary and how the strong conjugation reflects the verb's ancient origins.

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开始练习例句笔记与提示

sinken 30秒了解

Sinken means 'to sink' or 'to fall' and is used when something moves downwards by itself, like a ship or prices.
It is a strong verb (sinken, sank, ist gesunken) and always uses the auxiliary verb 'sein' in the perfect tense.
It is intransitive, meaning it never takes a direct object; you cannot sink 'something' with this verb.
Commonly used for weather (temperatures), economics (prices, rates), and physical exhaustion (sinking into a chair).

The German verb sinken is a fundamental word used to describe downward movement, both in a literal and a highly abstract sense. At its core, it means 'to sink' or 'to fall.' Imagine a stone being dropped into a lake; it slowly descends through the water until it reaches the bottom. This physical process is the primary definition of the word. However, in modern German, you are just as likely to hear it in a news broadcast discussing the economy or the weather. When prices drop, when the temperature goes down, or when a person's motivation wanes, the word sinken is the go-to verb. It is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. Something sinks on its own; you do not 'sink' something else (for that, you would use the transitive counterpart, senken).

Literal Movement: Used for objects moving downward through a liquid or gas. For example, a ship sinking in the ocean or the sun sinking below the horizon at dusk.
Statistical Decrease: Used frequently in business and science to describe a reduction in value, quantity, or intensity. Examples include falling unemployment rates, decreasing temperatures, or lowering stock prices.
Emotional or Physical State: Describes a person physically collapsing or lowering themselves, or a metaphorical drop in mood or courage. 'In den Sessel sinken' (to sink into the armchair) is a common expression of exhaustion.

Das Schiff begann langsam im tiefen Ozean zu sinken.

Understanding the nuance of sinken requires recognizing that it is an automatic or passive process. Unlike fallen, which implies a sudden or uncontrolled drop (like an apple falling from a tree), sinken often suggests a more gradual, continuous, or inevitable descent. If a ship 'falls' into the water, it sounds like an accident during transport; if it 'sinks,' it is entering the water and going under. This distinction is crucial for learners who want to sound natural. In the context of data, sinken is preferred when the trend is being observed over time. For instance, 'Die Arbeitslosenquote sinkt' implies a measurable trend of improvement in the labor market.

Die Temperaturen sinken heute Nacht unter den Gefrierpunkt.

Historically, the word has deep Germanic roots, related to the English 'sink.' In literature, it is often used poetically. A hero might 'in die Knie sinken' (sink to their knees) in a moment of defeat or prayer. The sun 'sinkt' into the sea, creating a vivid image of the end of the day. In modern professional settings, you will encounter it in phrases like 'die Produktivität sinkt' (productivity is decreasing) or 'das Interesse sinkt' (interest is waning). It is a versatile verb that bridges the gap between the physical world and abstract data analysis, making it an essential part of an A2-level vocabulary and beyond.

Nach dem langen Arbeitstag sank er erschöpft in sein Bett.

Grammatical Note: Sinken is an irregular (strong) verb. The principal parts are: sinken (present), sank (past), ist gesunken (perfect). Do not confuse it with 'senken, senkte, hat gesenkt'.

Das Vertrauen in die Politik ist in den letzten Jahren stark gesunken.

In summary, whether you are talking about a submarine descending into the depths, the cost of living finally becoming manageable, or a tired child falling into a deep sleep, sinken provides the necessary linguistic framework. It conveys a sense of movement that is often beyond the immediate control of an actor, describing a natural or systemic progression downward. Mastering its use, particularly its distinction from senken, is a hallmark of moving from a basic to an intermediate level of German proficiency.

Using sinken correctly in a sentence requires an understanding of its grammar as an intransitive strong verb. This means it never takes an object. You cannot 'sink a ship' using sinken; rather, the ship 'sinks' (Das Schiff sinkt). If you want to say someone sank the ship, you must use the transitive verb versenken or senken for more abstract things. Because sinken describes a change of position or state, it always uses sein as its auxiliary verb in the perfect and pluperfect tenses. This is a common point of confusion for English speakers who are used to 'have' being the universal auxiliary.

Present Tense (Präsens): In the present tense, it follows standard strong verb patterns: ich sinke, du sinkst, er/sie/es sinkt, wir sinken, ihr sinkt, sie sinken. 'Die Preise sinken' (The prices are falling).
Simple Past (Präteritum): The stem vowel changes from 'i' to 'a'. 'Das Schiff sank' (The ship sank). This form is used primarily in storytelling and formal writing.
Perfect Tense (Perfekt): Formed with 'sein' and the past participle 'gesunken'. 'Der Wasserspiegel ist gesunken' (The water level has dropped).

Wenn die Sonne sinkt, wird es im Wald sehr kühl.

When constructing sentences with sinken, you will often use prepositional phrases to indicate the destination or the extent of the drop. Phrases like 'auf den Grund' (to the bottom), 'unter Null' (below zero), or 'um zehn Prozent' (by ten percent) are very common. For example: 'Der Stein sank auf den Grund des Brunnens' (The stone sank to the bottom of the well). Notice how the preposition 'auf' takes the accusative case here because it describes a movement towards a destination. Similarly, in an economic context: 'Der Umsatz sank um fünf Prozent' (Revenue dropped by five percent). Here, 'um' is used to indicate the difference or margin of the decrease.

Die Arbeitslosenzahlen sind in diesem Quartal überraschend stark gesunken.

Metaphorical usage also follows these rules. If you are describing someone's social standing or reputation, you might say 'Sein Ansehen sank' (His reputation sank). If a person is physically weak, you might say 'Sie sank in die Knie' (She sank to her knees). In all these cases, the verb remains intransitive. There is no direct object receiving the action; the subject is the one undergoing the change. This is a key difference from English, where 'sink' can sometimes be used transitively (e.g., 'He sank the ball in the hole'), whereas in German, you would need a different verb like 'versenken' for that specific action.

Vor Erschöpfung sank der Wanderer am Wegrand nieder.

Common Prepositions: 1. Auf (+ Accusative) - to (a level/bottom). 2. Unter (+ Accusative) - below. 3. Um (+ Accusative) - by (a specific amount).

Die Qualität der Produkte darf nicht weiter sinken.

Finally, pay attention to the level of formality. While sinken is perfectly fine in everyday speech, it is also the standard term for formal reports. In a casual conversation, you might hear 'Die Preise gehen runter' (The prices are going down), but in a newspaper, you will almost always see 'Die Preise sinken'. This makes it a high-frequency, high-utility verb that spans all registers of the German language. By practicing the movement from present to past and perfect, and by focusing on the 'sein' auxiliary, you will avoid the most frequent errors made by English-speaking learners.

The word sinken is ubiquitous in German daily life, appearing in contexts ranging from the evening news to nautical history. If you turn on the television to watch the Tagesschau (Germany's main news program), you are almost guaranteed to hear this verb within the first ten minutes, especially during the economic or weather segments. In the economic section, it describes market trends: 'Der DAX ist heute um zwei Prozent gesunken' (The DAX index fell by two percent today). In the weather forecast, it describes meteorological changes: 'Die Schneefallgrenze sinkt am Wochenende auf 800 Meter' (The snow line will drop to 800 meters this weekend). These are the most common environments for the word.

In the News: Economic reports, crime statistics, and political polls. 'Die Kriminalitätsrate sinkt' (The crime rate is falling) or 'Die Umfragewerte der Regierung sinken' (The government's poll numbers are dropping).
In Nature and Science: Describing the sun setting, water levels in rivers during a drought, or particles settling in a liquid. 'Der Wasserspiegel des Rheins sinkt gefährlich' (The Rhine's water level is sinking dangerously).
In Literature and Drama: Describing physical movements of characters, often indicating exhaustion, grief, or death. 'Er sank leblos zu Boden' (He sank lifeless to the ground).

Laut dem Wetterbericht sinken die Temperaturen heute Nacht drastisch.

In a professional environment, you will hear sinken during meetings and presentations. Managers might talk about 'sinkende Kosten' (sinking/falling costs) as a positive development, or 'sinkende Verkaufszahlen' (falling sales numbers) as a problem that needs addressing. Because the word is neutral and precise, it is preferred over more colloquial expressions like 'nach unten gehen' (to go down). If you are reading a German newspaper like the Süddeutsche Zeitung or Der Spiegel, you will see it used to describe sociological trends, such as 'die sinkende Geburtenrate' (the falling birth rate), a topic frequently discussed in the context of Germany's aging population.

Die Inflation ist im Vergleich zum Vormonat leicht gesunken.

Nautical contexts are another place where sinken is literal and dramatic. Documentary films about the Titanic or historical accounts of shipwrecks will use the verb extensively. 'Das Schiff sank innerhalb von zwei Stunden' (The ship sank within two hours). In these stories, you might also hear the phrase 'mit wehenden Fahnen sinken' (to go down with flying colors), which means to fail or be defeated while maintaining one's pride and principles. This idiomatic use shows how the literal meaning of a ship going under has permeated the German figurative language.

Das Interesse an der neuen Serie scheint langsam zu sinken.

In Daily Conversation: 'Bist du schon ins Bett gesunken?' (Have you already collapsed into bed?) — a poetic way to ask if someone is sleeping. Or 'Meine Stimmung ist auf den Nullpunkt gesunken' (My mood has sunk to zero/rock bottom).

Das Schiff ist nach der Kollision mit dem Eisberg schnell gesunken.

Lastly, in the context of the environment and climate change, sinken is a key verb. While we often talk about 'rising' sea levels, scientists also monitor 'sinkende Grundwasserspiegel' (falling groundwater levels). If you are interested in environmental activism or science in Germany, this is a term you will encounter frequently in research papers and public debates. Whether the topic is the economy, the weather, or a tragic historical event, sinken is the essential verb for describing a movement from high to low, or from the surface to the depths.

The most frequent and significant mistake learners make with sinken is confusing it with its transitive twin, senken. This is a classic 'false friend' pair in German grammar, similar to 'liegen' vs. 'legen' or 'sitzen' vs. 'setzen'. The rule is simple but often hard to apply in the heat of conversation: sinken is something that happens by itself (intransitive), while senken is an action performed by someone or something on an object (transitive). For example, 'Die Preise sinken' (The prices are falling) is correct, but 'Ich sinke die Preise' is wrong. To say 'I am lowering the prices,' you must say 'Ich senke die Preise'.

Sinken vs. Senken: Sinken: No object. Auxiliary 'sein'. (Die Temperatur ist gesunken).
Senken: Takes an object. Auxiliary 'haben'. (Die Zentralbank hat die Zinsen gesenkt).
The Auxiliary Verb Trap: Many English speakers say 'Ich habe gesunken' because 'I have sunk' is the English equivalent. In German, because it is a verb of motion/change of state, you must use 'sein'. Correct: 'Ich bin gesunken' (though this literal meaning is rare for people unless they are drowning; usually it's 'Das Schiff ist gesunken').
Sinken vs. Fallen: While often interchangeable, 'fallen' implies a more sudden, vertical drop. 'Sinken' is often slower or through a medium. You wouldn't say a person 'sinkt' from a ladder; they 'fällt'. But a person 'sinkt' into a chair.

Falsch: Die Regierung hat die Steuern gesunken.
Richtig: Die Regierung hat die Steuern gesenkt.

Another common error involves the past participle and simple past forms. Because sinken is a strong verb, its forms are irregular: sinken, sank, gesunken. Learners often try to conjugate it weakly (e.g., 'sinkte' or 'gesinkt'), which is incorrect. Remembering the 'i-a-u' vowel progression (sinken, sank, gesunken) is a helpful mnemonic. This pattern is shared by other common verbs like trinken (trinken, trank, getrunken) and singen (singen, sang, gesungen), which can help you internalize the conjugation.

Falsch: Das Schiff sinkte schnell.
Richtig: Das Schiff sank schnell.

Misusing the preposition 'um' vs. 'auf' is another frequent pitfall. If you say 'Die Preise sind auf 10 Euro gesunken,' it means the final price is now 10 Euro. If you say 'Die Preise sind um 10 Euro gesunken,' it means they were reduced by 10 Euro (e.g., from 50 to 40). Mixing these up can lead to significant misunderstandings in financial or mathematical contexts. Always double-check if you are describing the target level (auf) or the amount of change (um).

Falsch: Die Temperatur ist um 5 Grad gesunken (when you meant it is now 5 degrees).
Richtig: Die Temperatur ist auf 5 Grad gesunken.

Finally, watch out for 'versinken'. While sinken means to go down, versinken often implies being completely submerged or lost in something. You 'sink' into a chair (sinken), but a city might 'versinken' in the ocean or a person might 'versinken' in thought (in Gedanken versinken). Using sinken when the more intense versinken is required can make your German sound a bit flat, though it is usually not a 'wrong' choice, just a less descriptive one.

German is a language rich in verbs that describe movement and change. While sinken is a versatile and common choice, there are several alternatives that might be more precise depending on the context. Understanding these synonyms and their subtle differences will help you move from a basic level to a more advanced, nuanced command of the language. The most common alternative is fallen, but we also have specialized verbs like abnehmen, schrumpfen, and nachlassen.

Sinken vs. Fallen: Sinken: Often implies a slow, continuous movement through a medium (water, air) or a steady statistical trend. Fallen: Implies a more sudden, often uncontrolled vertical drop. You 'fall' off a bike, but you 'sink' into a soft bed.
Sinken vs. Abnehmen: Sinken: Used for levels, temperatures, and prices. Abnehmen: Used for weight, intensity, or general quantity. You 'take off' weight (abnehmen), and the wind 'decreases' (nimmt ab).
Sinken vs. Zurückgehen: Zurückgehen: Literally 'to go back.' In statistics, it is a very common, slightly more formal synonym for sinken. 'Die Nachfrage geht zurück' (Demand is declining).

Die Nachfrage nach Öl geht zurück, weshalb die Preise sinken.

In more specific contexts, you might use stürzen. This word means 'to plunge' or 'to crash' and is used when a drop is extremely rapid and dramatic. For example, if the stock market crashes, you would say 'Die Kurse stürzen ab' rather than just 'Die Kurse sinken'. Another interesting alternative is schwinden, which means 'to dwindle' or 'to fade away'. This is often used for abstract things like hope, strength, or light. 'Die Hoffnung schwand' (Hope dwindled) sounds much more literary and evocative than 'Die Hoffnung sank'.

Nach der Operation ließen die Schmerzen allmählich nach.

For physical objects going underwater, you have untergehen and versinken. Untergehen is the standard word for a ship foundering or the sun setting (Die Sonne geht unter). Versinken emphasizes the state of being completely swallowed by something. 'Er versank im Moor' (He sank/disappeared into the bog). When talking about a city like Venice, you would say 'Venedig versinkt im Meer' to emphasize the tragedy and the completeness of the process. In contrast, sinken is more about the movement itself.

Das Dorf versank nach dem Dammbruch in den Fluten.

Summary of Alternatives: 1. Fallen: Sudden/vertical. 2. Abnehmen: Quantity/intensity. 3. Nachlassen: Quality/strength. 4. Stürzen: Rapid/crash. 5. Schwinden: Fading/dwindling. 6. Untergehen: Going under (sun/ship).

Die Geburtenraten in Europa sinken seit Jahrzehnten kontinuierlich.

By choosing the right verb, you convey more information to your listener. If you say 'Die Preise fallen,' it sounds like a sudden discount. If you say 'Die Preise sinken,' it sounds like a market trend. If you say 'Die Preise stürzen,' it sounds like a crisis. This level of precision is what makes German such an expressive language for both science and literature.

How Formal Is It?

趣味小知识

The English word 'sink' and the German 'sinken' are direct cognates, meaning they share the same ancient ancestor. However, English 'sink' can be used transitively (He sank the ship), while German 'sinken' is strictly intransitive.

发音指南

UK /ˈzɪŋkən/

US /ˈzɪŋkən/

The stress is on the first syllable: SINK-en.

押韵词

trinken winken hinken stinken blinken schminken linken inken

常见错误

Pronouncing the starting 's' as an unvoiced 's' (like 'sink' in English). In German, it should be voiced like 'z'.
Over-emphasizing the 'e' in the ending '-en'. It should be a short, neutral schwa sound.
Confusing the 'i' sound with a long 'ee' sound.
Merging the 'n' and 'k' too much; the 'k' must be distinct.
Not voicing the 's' when it appears at the beginning of the word.

难度评级

阅读 2/5

Easy to recognize due to English cognate 'sink'.

写作 4/5

Difficult to remember the strong past forms and the 'sein' auxiliary.

口语 3/5

The voiced 's' at the start needs practice for English speakers.

听力 2/5

Usually clear in context, especially in news or weather.

接下来学什么

前置知识

fallen gehen Wasser unten sein

接下来学习

senken steigen versinken abnehmen zunehmen

高级

erlahmen schwinden stürzen abflauen degradieren

需要掌握的语法

Strong Verbs with Vowel Change

sinken -> sank -> gesunken (i-a-u pattern)

Auxiliary Verb 'sein' for Change of State

Das Schiff IST gesunken (not HAT gesunken)

Intransitive vs. Transitive Verbs

sinken (it happens) vs. senken (you do it)

Prepositions with Accusative for Direction

Er sinkt IN DEN Sessel (movement into)

Verb-Last in Subordinate Clauses

Ich hoffe, dass die Kosten SINKEN.

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按水平分级的例句

Die Sonne sinkt.

The sun is sinking/setting.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Das Schiff sinkt.

The ship is sinking.

Basic subject-verb structure.

Die Temperatur sinkt.

The temperature is falling.

Used for weather trends.

Ich sinke in das Bett.

I sink into the bed.

Preposition 'in' with accusative for movement.

Der Stein sinkt im Wasser.

The stone sinks in the water.

Describing physical movement through a medium.

Die Preise sinken nicht.

The prices are not falling.

Negative sentence with 'nicht'.

Warum sinkt das Boot?

Why is the boat sinking?

Question form with 'warum'.

Das Wasser sinkt langsam.

The water is sinking (receding) slowly.

Adverb 'langsam' modifying the verb.

Die Preise für Benzin sind gesunken.

Gas prices have fallen.

Perfect tense with 'sein' and 'gesunken'.

Er sank müde in den Sessel.

He sank tiredly into the armchair.

Simple past 'sank' for narrative.

Die Temperatur sinkt heute auf null Grad.

The temperature is dropping to zero degrees today.

Preposition 'auf' for the target level.

Die Zahl der Schüler sinkt jedes Jahr.

The number of students is falling every year.

Describing a statistical trend.

Das Niveau der Prüfung ist gesunken.

The level of the exam has dropped.

Abstract use for quality/difficulty.

Der Wasserspiegel im See sinkt im Sommer.

The water level in the lake drops in summer.

Natural process description.

Mein Mut sinkt, wenn ich das sehe.

My courage sinks when I see that.

Metaphorical use for emotions.

Sind die Kosten gesunken?

Have the costs fallen?

Perfect tense question.

Die Arbeitslosenquote ist im März leicht gesunken.

The unemployment rate fell slightly in March.

Formal statistical reporting.

Sie sank ihm weinend in die Arme.

She fell into his arms weeping.

Literary/emotional context.

Das Interesse an dem Projekt ist stark gesunken.

Interest in the project has dropped significantly.

Abstract noun as subject.

Die Sonne sank langsam im Meer versinkend.

The sun sank, slowly disappearing into the sea.

Combining 'sinken' with 'versinken' for emphasis.

Die Qualität der Produkte darf nicht weiter sinken.

The quality of the products must not fall any further.

Modal verb 'dürfen' with infinitive.

Seine Stimme sank zu einem Flüstern.

His voice sank to a whisper.

Describing changes in sound intensity.

Die Inflation ist in diesem Monat um 0,5 Prozent gesunken.

Inflation has fallen by 0.5 percent this month.

Preposition 'um' for the amount of change.

Er ist in meiner Achtung tief gesunken.

He has fallen low in my estimation.

Idiomatic expression about reputation.

Die Produktivität sank infolge der schlechten Organisation.

Productivity fell as a result of poor organization.

Simple past in a cause-effect sentence.

In den letzten Jahren ist das Vertrauen in die Medien gesunken.

In recent years, trust in the media has declined.

Perfect tense with abstract subject.

Das Schiff sank, nachdem es ein Leck geschlagen hatte.

The ship sank after it had sprung a leak.

Complex sentence with 'nachdem' and pluperfect.

Die Kriminalitätsrate ist dank der neuen Maßnahmen gesunken.

The crime rate has fallen thanks to the new measures.

Preposition 'dank' with genitive/dative.

Er sank erschöpft auf die Knie.

He sank to his knees in exhaustion.

Physical description of collapse.

Mit sinkenden Preisen steigt oft die Nachfrage.

With falling prices, demand often increases.

Present participle used as an adjective.

Das Niveau der Diskussion sank zusehends.

The level of the discussion was visibly dropping.

Abstract use for social behavior.

Die Sonne war bereits unter den Horizont gesunken.

The sun had already sunk below the horizon.

Pluperfect tense with 'war'.

Die Hemmschwelle zur Gewalt scheint in der Gesellschaft zu sinken.

The threshold for violence seems to be lowering in society.

Abstract sociological observation.

Das Dorf sank nach dem Erdbeben in Schutt und Asche.

The village sank into rubble and ashes after the earthquake.

Metaphorical/dramatic use for destruction.

Ihre Hoffnung sank mit jedem vergehenden Tag.

Her hope sank with every passing day.

Emotional state over time.

Die Aktienkurse sind ins Bodenlose gesunken.

The stock prices have plummeted into the abyss (bottomless).

Idiomatic expression 'ins Bodenlose'.

Er sank in tiefes Nachdenken versunken an seinem Schreibtisch.

He sat at his desk, lost in deep thought.

Combining 'sinken' with 'versunken' (participle).

Die Reallöhne sind trotz des Wirtschaftswachstums gesunken.

Real wages have fallen despite economic growth.

Economic terminology.

Das Interesse an klassischen Konzerten sinkt stetig.

Interest in classical concerts is steadily declining.

Describing cultural trends.

Sie sank in einen tiefen, traumlosen Schlaf.

She fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Literary description of sleep.

Das Anwesen sank nach Jahrzehnten der Vernachlässigung in die Bedeutungslosigkeit.

The estate sank into insignificance after decades of neglect.

Highly abstract/literary use.

Mit dem Sinken der Abenddämmerung erwachte der Wald zum Leben.

With the falling of dusk, the forest came to life.

Nominalized verb 'das Sinken'.

Er sank vor dem Altar in ein verzweifeltes Gebet.

He sank before the altar into a desperate prayer.

Evocative physical/emotional description.

Die Moral der Truppe sank angesichts der drohenden Niederlage.

The troop's morale sank in the face of imminent defeat.

Abstract collective state.

Sein Stern am politischen Himmel begann langsam zu sinken.

His star in the political sky began to slowly set/fade.

Metaphorical idiom for career decline.

In der Retorte sank der Niederschlag langsam zu Boden.

In the retort, the precipitate slowly sank to the bottom.

Technical/scientific context.

Die Erkenntnis sank nur langsam in sein Bewusstsein.

The realization sank only slowly into his consciousness.

Abstract psychological process.

Das Reich sank schließlich unter der Last seiner eigenen Dekadenz.

The empire finally sank under the weight of its own decadence.

Historical/philosophical context.

常见搭配

Preise sinken

Temperaturen sinken

Arbeitslosigkeit sinkt

auf den Grund sinken

in die Knie sinken

unter Null sinken

in den Sessel sinken

das Niveau sinkt

Zinsen sinken

Mut sinkt

常用短语

Die Sonne sinkt.

— The sun is setting. It describes the visual movement of the sun at dusk.

Schau mal, wie schön die Sonne sinkt!

In den Schlaf sinken.

— To fall into a deep sleep. It implies a gentle, natural transition.

Nach der langen Reise sank er sofort in den Schlaf.

In Vergessenheit sinken.

— To be forgotten. It describes something slowly losing its relevance.

Viele alte Bräuche sind in Vergessenheit gesunken.

Die Stimmung sinkt.

— The mood is getting worse. Used when a group of people starts feeling unhappy.

Als es anfing zu regnen, sank die Stimmung auf der Party.

Tief gesunken sein.

— To have fallen low (morally or socially). Usually refers to someone's reputation.

Nach dem Skandal ist der Politiker tief gesunken.

Unter den Gefrierpunkt sinken.

— To drop below freezing. A standard weather forecast phrase.

Heute Nacht wird die Temperatur unter den Gefrierpunkt sinken.

In Gedanken versinken/sinken.

— To be lost in thought. Sinken is used to show the start of the state.

Er sank an seinem Schreibtisch in tiefes Nachdenken.

Die Hemmschwelle sinkt.

— The inhibition level is dropping. Often used in social psychology.

Durch den Alkohol sank seine Hemmschwelle.

Das Schiff ist gesunken.

— The ship has sunk. A literal description of a nautical accident.

Wir wissen nicht, warum das Schiff gesunken ist.

Die Kurse sinken.

— The (stock) prices are falling. Standard financial terminology.

An der Börse sinken die Kurse heute weltweit.

容易混淆的词

sinken vs senken

Senken is transitive (you lower something). Sinken is intransitive (it goes down by itself).

sinken vs fallen

Fallen is more sudden and vertical; sinken is often slower or through a medium.

sinken vs versinken

Versinken implies being completely swallowed up or submerged.

习语与表达

"In den Boden versinken (vor Scham)."

— To want the ground to swallow you up (out of shame). While usually 'versinken', 'sinken' is sometimes used in variations.

Ich wollte vor Scham in den Boden versinken.

informal

"Mit wehenden Fahnen untergehen/sinken."

— To go down fighting or to fail with pride. Literally 'to sink with waving flags'.

Wenn wir scheitern, dann wenigstens mit wehenden Fahnen.

literary

"Auf den Nullpunkt sinken."

— To reach rock bottom. Used for motivation, temperature, or mood.

Meine Motivation ist auf den Nullpunkt gesunken.

neutral

"In die Brüche sinken/gehen."

— To fall apart or break down. Sinken is used less often than 'gehen' but implies a collapse.

Ihre Ehe ist in die Brüche gesunken.

informal

"Jemandem in die Arme sinken."

— To collapse into someone's arms, usually from relief or exhaustion.

Sie sank ihm vor Erschöpfung in die Arme.

literary

"In ein Loch sinken."

— To fall into a depression or a period of low motivation.

Nach dem Erfolg sank er in ein tiefes Loch.

informal

"In die Knie sinken."

— To be defeated or to surrender physically.

Der Gegner sank schließlich in die Knie.

neutral

"In den Orkus sinken."

— To sink into oblivion or be completely destroyed (Orkus is the underworld).

Seine Pläne sind im Orkus gesunken.

elevated

"In tiefen Schlaf sinken."

— To fall into a very deep and heavy sleep.

Das Kind sank endlich in tiefen Schlaf.

neutral

"Unter das Niveau sinken."

— To fall below an acceptable standard of behavior or quality.

Seine Witze sinken weit unter das Niveau.

informal

容易混淆

sinken vs senken

They look and sound very similar.

Senken needs an object and uses 'haben'. Sinken needs no object and uses 'sein'.

Ich senke den Preis. Der Preis sinkt.

sinken vs versenken

Both relate to sinking.

Versenken is the active act of making something sink (transitive).

Das U-Boot versenkt das Schiff. Das Schiff sinkt.

sinken vs abnehmen

Both mean to decrease.

Abnehmen is for weight or general quantity; sinken is for levels and values.

Ich nehme ab. Die Temperatur sinkt.

sinken vs stürzen

Both involve moving down.

Stürzen is a violent, rapid crash; sinken is a steady descent.

Die Kurse stürzen ab! (Crisis) vs. Die Kurse sinken. (Trend)

sinken vs untergehen

Both used for ships and the sun.

Untergehen is more final (going under); sinken is the process of descending.

Die Sonne geht unter. Das Schiff sinkt.

句型

[Subject] sinkt.

Die Sonne sinkt.

[Subject] ist gesunken.

Der Preis ist gesunken.

[Subject] sinkt auf [Number].

Die Temperatur sinkt auf null Grad.

[Subject] sinkt um [Number].

Die Arbeitslosigkeit sinkt um drei Prozent.

[Subject] sinkt in [Object-Accusative].

Er sinkt in den Sessel.

Mit sinkenden [Noun-Plural] ...

Mit sinkenden Preisen kaufen die Leute mehr.

[Abstract Subject] sinkt in die Bedeutungslosigkeit.

Das Thema sinkt in die Bedeutungslosigkeit.

Das Sinken von [Noun-Genitive] ...

Das Sinken des Wasserspiegels war besorgniserregend.

词族

名词

das Sinken (the sinking/decrease)

die Senkung (the reduction/lowering - from senken)

das Sinkflug (descent of an airplane)

die Sinkgeschwindigkeit (rate of descent)

das Senkblei (plumb line)

动词

senken (to lower - transitive)

versinken (to sink into/be submerged)

absinken (to sink down/subside)

einsinken (to sink in/cave in)

zusammensinken (to collapse/slump)

形容词

sinkend (sinking/falling)

gesunken (sunk/fallen)

senkrecht (vertical/perpendicular)

如何使用

frequency

Very high, especially in news, weather, and business.

常见错误

Ich habe die Preise gesunken. → Ich habe die Preise gesenkt.
You used the intransitive verb 'sinken' with an object. For an action you perform, you must use 'senken'.
Das Schiff hat gesunken. → Das Schiff ist gesunken.
Verbs of motion and change of state like 'sinken' require the auxiliary 'sein' in German.
Die Temperatur sinkte gestern. → Die Temperatur sank gestern.
Sinken is a strong verb. The simple past is 'sank', not 'sinkte'.
Die Preise sind um 5 Euro gesunken (when they are now 5 Euro). → Die Preise sind auf 5 Euro gesunken.
Use 'auf' for the final value and 'um' for the amount of change.
Ich bin von der Leiter gesunken. → Ich bin von der Leiter gefallen.
Sinken implies a slow descent or through a medium. Falling off a ladder is a sudden 'fallen'.

小贴士

The 'Sein' Rule

Always pair 'sinken' with 'sein' in the perfect tense. Remember: 'Es IST gesunken'. This is because it shows a change of state.

Sinken vs. Senken

Think of the 'i' in sinken as 'it' (it happens by itself). Think of the 'e' in senken as 'effort' (you put effort into lowering something).

Weather Reports

If you hear 'sinken' on the radio, it's almost always about the temperature or the snow line. Pay attention to the numbers following it.

Voiced S

The 's' in 'sinken' is voiced like an English 'z'. Practice saying 'ZINK-en' to get the German sound right.

Prepositions

Use 'auf' for the result (Die Temperatur sinkt auf 0) and 'um' for the difference (Die Temperatur sinkt um 5 Grad).

The i-a-u Pattern

Group 'sinken' with 'singen' and 'trinken'. They all follow the same vowel change: sinken-sank-gesunken, singen-sang-gesungen, trinken-trank-getrunken.

Sinken vs. Fallen

Use 'sinken' for a gradual or medium-based descent (water/air/data). Use 'fallen' for a sudden vertical drop (gravity).

Economic Trends

In a professional setting, 'sinken' is a neutral way to describe a decrease. For a more formal touch, use 'zurückgehen'.

Poetic Use

When reading, 'sinken' often implies a gentle or inevitable movement, like the sun setting or someone falling asleep.

In die Knie sinken

This means to collapse to one's knees. It's a very vivid way to describe exhaustion or defeat.

记住它

记忆技巧

Think of a 'SINK'. Water and objects go down into a sink. Sinken = to go down. Also, remember the 'i-a-u' pattern like 'drink' (trinken-trank-getrunken).

视觉联想

Imagine a submarine (U-Boot) slowly sinking into the deep blue ocean. The movement is steady and automatic.

Word Web

Wasser Preise Temperatur Schiff Sonne fallen unten sein

挑战

Try to use 'sinken' in three different ways today: one for the weather, one for money/prices, and one for how you feel after work.

词源

From Middle High German 'sinken', from Old High German 'sinkan'. It is a common Germanic verb with cognates in many languages.

原始含义： To fall, drop, or descend through a medium.

Indo-European > Germanic > West Germanic > German

文化背景

No specific sensitivities, but avoid using it mockingly about someone's 'sinking' status in sensitive social situations.

English speakers often forget that 'sinken' cannot have an object. You must say 'The ship sinks' but 'I lower the prices'.

Der Untergang der Titanic (Historical event) Goethes Gedichte (often use sinking sun metaphors) Modern economic reports (DAX index updates)

在生活中练习

真实语境

Weather Forecast

Die Temperaturen sinken.
Die Schneefallgrenze sinkt.
Der Luftdruck sinkt.
Sinken unter den Gefrierpunkt.

Economy & Business

Die Preise sinken.
Der Umsatz ist gesunken.
Die Zinsen sinken.
Die Nachfrage sinkt.

Nautical/Shipping

Das Schiff sinkt.
Auf den Meeresgrund sinken.
Ein sinkendes Boot.
Versenken (to sink something).

Physical States

In den Sessel sinken.
In die Knie sinken.
Erschöpft zu Boden sinken.
In tiefen Schlaf sinken.

Abstract Trends

Das Niveau sinkt.
Das Vertrauen sinkt.
Die Moral sinkt.
In Vergessenheit sinken.

对话开场白

"Glaubst du, dass die Benzinpreise bald wieder sinken werden?"

"Wie fühlst du dich, wenn die Temperaturen im Winter so stark sinken?"

"Ist dein Interesse an deinem Hobby über die Jahre eher gestiegen oder gesunken?"

"Was machst du, wenn deine Motivation bei der Arbeit sinkt?"

"Hast du schon mal gesehen, wie ein Schiff im Film gesunken ist?"

日记主题

Schreibe über eine Zeit, in der dein Mut gesunken ist, und wie du ihn wiedergefunden hast.

Beschreibe den Sonnenuntergang an deinem Lieblingsort. Wie sinkt die Sonne?

Reflektiere über die Preise in deinem Land. Welche Preise sinken, welche steigen?

Wie reagierst du, wenn das Niveau einer Unterhaltung sinkt? Bleibst du oder gehst du?

Stell dir vor, du bist auf einem sinkenden Schiff (metaphorisch). Was rettest du zuerst?

常见问题

10 个问题

It is strictly intransitive. You cannot say 'Ich sinke das Boot.' You must say 'Das Boot sinkt.' If you want to say you are sinking something, use 'versenken' or 'senken'.

You must use 'sein'. Because 'sinken' describes a change of position or state, the correct perfect tense is 'ist gesunken'. For example: 'Die Preise sind gesunken.'

Sinken (strong: sinken, sank, gesunken) is intransitive—the subject moves down. Senken (weak: senken, senkte, gesenkt) is transitive—the subject moves an object down. 'Die Zinsen sinken' vs 'Die Bank senkt die Zinsen'.

Yes, but usually to describe physical exhaustion (sinken in den Sessel) or falling to one's knees (in die Knie sinken). If a person is drowning, you would say 'er geht unter' or 'er ertrinkt'.

Use the preposition 'um': 'Die Temperatur ist um 5 Grad gesunken.' If you want to say it is now 5 degrees, use 'auf': 'Die Temperatur ist auf 5 Grad gesunken.'

It is a strong verb. It changes its stem vowel: sinken (present), sank (past), gesunken (participle). It follows the i-a-u pattern.

Yes, 'die sinkende Sonne' is a common and poetic way to describe the setting sun. 'Die Sonne sinkt' means the sun is going down.

It means 'the level/standard is dropping.' It is often used to criticize the quality of a conversation, a TV show, or an education system.

No, for weight loss you use 'abnehmen'. You would not say 'Mein Gewicht sinkt' in normal conversation, though it's technically understandable. 'Ich nehme ab' is much better.

The most common opposite is 'steigen' (to rise/increase). For example: 'Preise sinken' vs 'Preise steigen'.

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