das
Nachsehen
🤔 What Exactly Does "das Nachsehen" Mean?
Das Nachsehen is a German noun primarily used in the fixed phrase "das Nachsehen haben". It describes the situation where someone is disadvantaged, left empty-handed, suffers a loss, or fares worse compared to others. They've missed out on something or came up short.
Imagine pieces of cake being distributed, and they're all gone before it's your turn – then hast du das Nachsehen (*you lose out / you are left with nothing*).
A second, less common meaning as a noun derives from the verb "nachsehen" (to forgive) and means leniency, forbearance, or indulgence. Example: "Er bat um Nachsehen für sein Zuspätkommen." (*He asked for indulgence/understanding regarding his lateness.*) However, this meaning is much less frequent than the first one.
🚨 Attention: Usually, "das Nachsehen" refers to the disadvantage!
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
🧐 Grammar of "das Nachsehen"
Das Nachsehen is a neuter noun (sächlich). It's mostly used in the singular, often in the phrase "das Nachsehen haben", frequently without changes to the article as it forms the core of the idiom.
Here is the declension in the singular:
| Case | Form |
|---|---|
| Nominative | das Nachsehen |
| Genitive | des Nachsehens |
| Dative | dem Nachsehen |
| Accusative | das Nachsehen |
A plural form ("die Nachsehen") is grammatically possible but extremely uncommon and practically never used.
Example Sentences
- Wer nicht schnell genug war, hatte beim Ticketverkauf das Nachsehen.
(Whoever wasn't fast enough lost out on the ticket sales.) - Bei der Beförderung hatte er leider wieder das Nachsehen.
(Unfortunately, he was passed over for the promotion again.) - Wir bitten um Nachsehen, falls es zu Verzögerungen kommt. (Meaning: leniency)
(We ask for your understanding/indulgence should there be delays.)
💡 How to Use "das Nachsehen"?
The most common usage is the idiomatic phrase:
das Nachsehen haben: *to be at a disadvantage, to lose out, to be left empty-handed.*
- Context: Competitions, distributions, general situations where someone suffers a disadvantage.
- Example: "Die kleineren Unternehmen hatten bei der Auftragsvergabe oft das Nachsehen." (*The smaller companies often lost out when contracts were awarded.*)
The meaning of leniency is less common and usually more formal:
- Context: Apologies, formal requests for understanding.
- Example: "Haben Sie bitte Nachsehen mit den Unannehmlichkeiten." (*Please excuse the inconvenience.) (However, the noun "die Nachsicht"* is more common here.)
⚠️ Don't confuse "das Nachsehen" directly with the verb "nachsehen". The verb has more meanings:
- To check/look: Ich muss mal im Keller nachsehen. (I need to check in the cellar.)
- To look up: Kannst du das Wort im Wörterbuch nachsehen? (*Can you look up the word in the dictionary?*)
- To forgive/overlook: Er hat mir meinen Fehler nachgesehen. (*He forgave/overlooked my mistake.*)
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
- For the Article (das): Think of 'das'aster. When disaster strikes, you might have *das Nachsehen. Or: The race (das* Rennen) is over, and you have das Nachsehen.
- For the Meaning (Disadvantage): Imagine you have to look (*sehen) after (nach*) everyone else has taken their share. Usually, nothing good is left – you have the disadvantage, das Nachsehen.
↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms for das Nachsehen
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- For "being at a disadvantage": Benachteiligung (disadvantage), Pech (bad luck), Verlust (loss), Nachteil (disadvantage), Schaden (damage, loss), das Zu-kurz-Kommen (coming up short)
- For "leniency": Nachsicht (leniency), Verständnis (understanding), Milde (mildness), Toleranz (tolerance), Vergebung (forgiveness)
☝️ Make sure to use synonyms and antonyms in the correct context, depending on which meaning of "das Nachsehen" is intended.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hatte der letzte Keks in der Dose immer das Nachsehen?
(Why did the last cookie in the jar always lose out?)
Weil alle anderen schon weggekrümelt waren!
(Because all the others had already crumbled away!)
✍️ Poem about das Nachsehen
Die Schlange war lang, die Zeit verrann,
der Letzte hofft noch, irgendwann.
Doch als er drankam, war alles leer,
kein Glück für ihn, das fiel ihm schwer.
Er schaut nur nach, mit leerem Blick,
hat das Nachsehen, kein Kuchenstück.
(The queue was long, time slipped away,
the last one still hoped, for some day.
But when his turn came, all was bare,
no luck for him, a heavy share.
He just looks on, with empty gaze,
has lost out, no piece of cake's praise.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin kein Gewinn, eher ein Leid,
begleite den, der nicht bereit.
Wer zögert, trödelt, kommt zu spät,
fühlt oft, wie's ihm durch mich ergeht.
Was bin ich?
(I am no prize, more like a pain,
accompanying those not ready again.
Who hesitates, dawdles, arrives late,
often feels through me their fate.)
(Solution: das Nachsehen)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition
The word "Nachsehen" is composed of the preposition/adverb nach (meaning 'after') and the substantivized verb sehen ('to see/look'). It figuratively describes looking at something (too late) after the crucial action or distribution has already happened.
The Verb "nachsehen"
As mentioned, the verb nachsehen (separable: ich sehe nach) exists and has several meanings not directly identical to the noun phrase "das Nachsehen haben", although related:
- to check/look: Sieh bitte mal nach, ob die Post da ist. (*Please check if the mail is here.*)
- to look up (in a reference): Ich muss die Bedeutung im Wörterbuch nachsehen. (*I need to look up the meaning in the dictionary.*)
- to forgive/overlook/excuse: Kannst du mir diesen Fehler bitte nachsehen? (*Can you please forgive/overlook this mistake?*)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Nachsehen?
The word "Nachsehen" is neuter: das Nachsehen. It primarily means to be at a disadvantage or to lose out, often used in the phrase "das Nachsehen haben".
