die  Bedeutungslosigkeit

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈdɔʏtʊŋsˌloːzɪçkaɪt/

🤔 What does 'die Bedeutungslosigkeit' mean?

Die Bedeutungslosigkeit (noun, feminine) describes the state or quality of having no meaning, importance, or relevance. It's an abstract concept that can refer to objects, actions, events, or even life itself.

• It signifies the lack of sense, purpose, or value.
• It can express a feeling of insignificance or triviality.

🚨 As it is an abstract noun, it is mostly used in the singular form.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'Bedeutungslosigkeit' in Detail

The word 'Bedeutungslosigkeit' is a feminine noun. The article is die. Nouns ending in -keit are almost always feminine in German.

Declension (Singular):

Plural:

The plural form ('die Bedeutungslosigkeiten') is very rare and mainly used in philosophical or literary contexts to denote different types or instances of meaninglessness. It is practically never used in everyday language.

Example Sentences

1. Die Bedeutungslosigkeit seiner Bemühungen wurde ihm schmerzlich bewusst. (The meaninglessness of his efforts became painfully clear to him.)
2. Manchmal überkommt einen das Gefühl existenzieller Bedeutungslosigkeit. (Sometimes one is overcome by a feeling of existential meaninglessness.)
3. Angesichts der Größe des Universums kann man die eigene Bedeutungslosigkeit spüren. (Considering the size of the universe, one can feel one's own insignificance.)

🗣️ How to use 'Bedeutungslosigkeit'?

'Bedeutungslosigkeit' is often used in contexts dealing with philosophy, psychology, or existential questions. However, it can also describe more mundane situations.

• Philosophical/Existential: Discussions about the meaning of life, nihilism. Example: Der Roman thematisiert die Bedeutungslosigkeit des modernen Lebens. (The novel addresses the meaninglessness of modern life.)
• Psychological: Describing feelings of emptiness, depression, or insignificance. Example: Sie litt unter einem Gefühl der völligen Bedeutungslosigkeit. (She suffered from a feeling of complete meaninglessness.)
• Everyday/Dismissive: To express that something is unimportant or irrelevant. Example: Die Bedeutungslosigkeit dieses Details ist offensichtlich. (The insignificance of this detail is obvious.)

Distinction: 'Bedeutungslosigkeit' is stronger than 'Unwichtigkeit' (unimportance) or 'Irrelevanz' (irrelevance). It often implies a complete lack of meaning or value, whereas the other terms tend to describe relative insignificance.

💡 Mnemonics for 'Bedeutungslosigkeit'

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -keit are feminine (die), like die Fröhlichkeit (happiness), die Heiterkeit (cheerfulness), die Einsamkeit (loneliness)... and also die Bedeutungslosigkeit. Think: 'Die capacity (-keit sounds a bit like 'kite' or 'keit' like 'height') for Bedeutungslosigkeit'.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Bedeutung (meaning, significance) + -s- (linking sound) + los (-less) + -igkeit (-ness, state of being). So, it's the state of being 'meaning-less-ness'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Note: Words like 'Leere' (emptiness) or 'Nihilismus' (nihilism) are related concepts but not direct synonyms.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt ein Staubkorn das andere: "Glaubst du an ein Leben nach dem Staubsauger?"
Antwortet das andere: "Ach, das ist doch angesichts unserer kosmischen Bedeutungslosigkeit völlig irrelevant!"

(One dust mote asks the other: "Do you believe in life after the vacuum cleaner?"
The other replies: "Oh, given our cosmic meaninglessness, that's completely irrelevant!")

📜 A Little Poem

Im All, so weit, so leer, so kalt,
verliert die Welt schnell ihren Halt.
Ein Punkt, ein Nichts, im Sternenmeer,
die Bedeutungslosigkeit wiegt schwer.

Doch sucht der Mensch stets einen Sinn,
kämpft gegen Leere mittendrin.
Find't Wert im Kleinen, hier und heut,
trotzt jener großen Dunkelheit.

(In space, so vast, so empty, cold,
The world its grasp begins to lose hold.
A dot, a nothing, in starry sea,
Weighs heavily, insignificance for me.

Yet man forever seeks a sign,
Fights 'gainst the void within, divine.
Finds worth in small things, here today,
Defies that great dark disarray.)

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Zustand, oft gefühlt, selten gewollt,
habe keinen Wert, kein Gewicht, kein Gold.
Philosophen denken über mich nach,
manchmal lieg ich schwer auf dem Lebensdach.
Ich ende auf '-keit' und bin feminin.

Was bin ich?

(I am a state, often felt, rarely desired,
I have no value, no weight, no gold acquired.
Philosophers ponder me deep in their thought,
Sometimes I lie heavy on the life that is fraught.
I end in '-keit' and my gender is 'die'.

What am I?
Answer: die Bedeutungslosigkeit / meaninglessness / insignificance)

🧬 Word DNA: The Building Blocks of 'Bedeutungslosigkeit'

The word 'Bedeutungslosigkeit' is a great example of German word formation through compounding and derivation:

• Root: deuten (to point, indicate, interpret) -> Bedeutung (noun derivation: that which something means, importance)
• Adjective Formation: Bedeutung + -s- (linking sound) + -los (suffix for '-less') -> bedeutungslos (adjective: meaningless)
• Noun Formation: bedeutungslos + -igkeit (suffix forming abstract feminine nouns from adjectives, like '-ness') -> die Bedeutungslosigkeit (noun: the state of being meaningless)