das  Bedauern

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈdaʊɐn/

🤔 What is 'das Bedauern'?

Das Bedauern is a German noun primarily describing two emotional states:

1. Regret or sorrow about something: The feeling of wishing something had happened differently or not at all. It often relates to one's own actions or unfortunate circumstances.
2. Pity or sympathy: The feeling of compassion for another person due to their misfortune or difficult situation.

It's the nominalization (making a noun) of the verb 'bedauern' (to regret, to pity). As it describes a feeling or state, it uses the neuter article das.

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Declining 'das Bedauern'

Das Bedauern is a neuter noun. It is mostly used in the singular. A plural form (die Bedauern) is very rare and considered formal or archaic.

Declension Singular

📝 Example Sentences

• Nominative: Das Bedauern über seine Entscheidung war groß. (The regret about his decision was great.)
• Accusative: Er drückte das Bedauern seiner Firma aus. (He expressed his company's regret.)
• Dative: Mit tiefem Bedauern hörte sie die Nachricht. (With deep regret/sympathy, she heard the news.)
• Genitive: Trotz des Bedauerns musste er gehen. (Despite the regret, he had to leave.)

🗣️ Context is Key: Using 'das Bedauern'

Das Bedauern is used in various situations:

• Expressing regret: When regretting a past action or decision.
  • Example: Sein Bedauern über die verpasste Chance war ihm anzusehen. (His regret about the missed opportunity was visible on his face.)
• Expressing sympathy/pity: To show empathy for someone else's suffering.
  • Example: Sie äußerte ihr Bedauern über seinen Verlust. (She expressed her sympathy for his loss.)
• Formal apologies/cancellations: Often used in written communication or official contexts.
  • Example: Zu unserem Bedauern müssen wir Ihnen mitteilen, dass die Veranstaltung abgesagt wurde. (To our regret, we must inform you that the event has been cancelled.)

Differences from similar words:

• Mitleid (das): Similar to Bedauern in the sense of sympathy, but often focuses more strongly on passively feeling sorry for someone. Bedauern can also imply an active wish that things were different.
• Reue (die): Stronger than Bedauern when referring to one's own wrongdoings. Reue often implies a desire for atonement and a deep sense of guilt. Bedauern can also relate to circumstances beyond one's control.

💡 Brain Hacks for 'das Bedauern'

Article Aid: Think of 'das Gefühl' (the feeling). Many abstract feelings in German are neuter ('das'). Bedauern is 'that' ('das') feeling of regret or pity – so it's das Bedauern.

Meaning Aid: Imagine something bad DAUERt (lasts) in your memory, and you think aB*out it (BE-denken) with sadness. That's Be-dauern.

🔄 Words Alike and Opposite: Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Watch out!

Although similar, Mitleid and Reue are not always interchangeable with Bedauern, as they carry more specific connotations (passive pity vs. active remorse for one's actions).

😂 A Little Chuckle

Lehrer: "Fritzchen, kannst du mir einen Satz mit 'Bedauern' sagen?"
Fritzchen: "Gestern habe ich einen Frosch zertreten."
Lehrer: "Und wo ist da das Bedauern?"
Fritzchen: "Das kommt noch! Seine Frau hat gesagt, sie kommt gleich mit der ganzen Verwandtschaft!"

Translation:
Teacher: "Freddy, can you give me a sentence with 'regret' (Bedauern)?"
Freddy: "Yesterday, I stepped on a frog."
Teacher: "And where's the regret in that?"
Freddy: "It's coming! His wife said she's coming right over with the whole family!"

✒️ Poetic Regret

Ein Wort gesprochen, schnell und kalt,
ein Blick zurück, die Tat schon alt.
Ein leises Echo in der Brust,
das Bedauern wird bewusst.

Ein Mitgefühl für fremdes Leid,
ein Wunsch nach besserer Vergangenheitszeit.
Es nagt, es drückt, mal sanft, mal schwer,
das Bedauern, komm doch her?Nein, lieber nicht, geh fort von mir,
doch manchmal brauch ich dich als Zier,
um Mensch zu sein, mit Herz dabei,
so sei's, Bedauern, eins, zwei, drei.

Translation Hint: The poem speaks of a quickly spoken cold word, looking back at an old deed, and the dawning awareness of regret ('das Bedauern'). It touches on sympathy for others' pain and the wish for a better past. Regret gnaws, sometimes gently, sometimes heavily. The speaker questions if regret should come closer, decides against it, but acknowledges its necessity sometimes to feel human.

❓ Riddle Me This

Ich komme oft, wenn etwas schiefgegangen ist,
oder wenn jemand anderes traurig ist.
Manchmal wünschte man, ich wäre nie gekommen,
hab' aber keinen festen Platz eingenommen.
Ich bin ein Gefühl, sächlich und bekannt,
wenn man 'Entschuldigung' sagt, werd' ich oft genannt.

Was bin ich?
Answer: das Bedauern

Translation:
I often come when something has gone wrong,
or when someone else is sad.
Sometimes one wishes I had never come,
but I haven't taken a fixed place.
I am a feeling, neuter and well-known,
when one says 'sorry', I am often named.
What am I?

🧩 Extra Tidbits

Word Composition:

The word "Bedauern" is composed of:

• The prefix be-: This prefix often makes intransitive verbs transitive or intensifies the meaning.
• The stem dauern: Not in the sense of 'to last' (duration), but related to older German meaning 'to feel sorry for', 'to evoke pity' (related to Old High German 'dûrên' - to mourn).

Related Verb: bedauern (to regret something, to feel sorry for someone).