die  Belastung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈlastʊŋ/

📚 What does "die Belastung" mean?

Die Belastung is a feminine noun describing various types of pressure, weight, load, or strain. It can relate to physical, psychological, or financial contexts.

• Physical Belastung (Load/Strain): The weight or force acting on something (e.g., a bridge, the body). Example: Die maximale Belastung der Brücke wurde überschritten. (The maximum load of the bridge was exceeded.)
• Psychological/Emotional Belastung (Burden/Stress/Strain): Stress, worries, pressure, or a difficult situation that mentally affects someone. Example: Die ständige Unsicherheit war eine große psychische Belastung. (The constant uncertainty was a great psychological burden.)
• Financial Belastung (Burden/Charge/Debit): Costs, debts, or expenses that a person or organization must bear; also a debit from an account. Example: Die hohen Kreditraten stellen eine erhebliche finanzielle Belastung dar. (The high loan installments represent a considerable financial burden.) / Die Belastung auf dem Kontoauszug war unerwartet. (The debit on the bank statement was unexpected.)

⚠️ It's important to consider the context to understand the precise meaning of die Belastung.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Belastung

The word "Belastung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die. Like most feminine nouns ending in "-ung", it is feminine.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Application Examples

1. Die Belastung durch den Lärm war unerträglich.
   (The burden/strain from the noise was unbearable.)
2. Wir untersuchen die Auswirkungen der Belastung auf das Material.
   (We are investigating the effects of the load/stress on the material.)
3. Er konnte der Belastung nicht mehr standhalten.
   (He could no longer withstand the strain/pressure.)
4. Sie spürte die Belastung deutlich.
   (She clearly felt the burden/strain.)
5. Die finanziellen Belastungen nahmen zu.
   (The financial burdens increased.)
6. Trotz der Belastungen gab er nicht auf.
   (Despite the burdens/strains, he didn't give up.)
7. Wir müssen uns mit den Belastungen auseinandersetzen.
   (We have to deal with the burdens/charges.)
8. Das Unternehmen konnte die Belastungen reduzieren.
   (The company was able to reduce the burdens/charges.)

💡 How to use "die Belastung"?

"Die Belastung" is often used in contexts involving some form of pressure, weight, or negative impact.

• In everyday life: Talking about stress at work or in private life ("psychische Belastung" - psychological burden/stress), physical exertion ("körperliche Belastung" - physical strain), or financial worries ("finanzielle Belastung" - financial burden).
• In technology/physics: Describing the forces acting on structures ("statische Belastung" - static load, "dynamische Belastung" - dynamic load).
• In finance: Referring to costs, charges, levies, or debits ("steuerliche Belastung" - tax burden, "Kreditbelastung" - loan burden, "Kontobelastung" - account debit).
• In the environment: Describing harmful influences ("Umweltbelastung" - environmental pollution/burden, "Schadstoffbelastung" - pollutant load).

Comparison with similar words:

• Die Last (load, burden): Similar to Belastung, often more concrete regarding physical weight, but can also be used metaphorically (e.g., "eine Last von den Schultern nehmen" - to take a load off one's shoulders).
• Der Stress (stress): Primarily refers to psychological or emotional pressure, often due to lack of time or being overwhelmed. "Belastung" is a broader term.
• Die Bürde (burden): Similar to Belastung, often carries a moral or emotional weight, something heavy one has to bear or endure.
• Die Gebühr / Die Abgabe (fee / levy, charge): Specific types of financial burdens for certain services or purposes.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Belastung"

Article Mnemonic: Remember the ending "-ung". Words ending in "-ung" are almost always feminine (die). Imagine a woman (feminine) carrying many heavy shopping bags – die heavy Belastung!

Meaning Mnemonic: The word comes from "lasten" (to weigh, to burden). Think of a Be-last-ung as something that puts a heavy 'last' (load/burden) on you, whether it's physical, emotional, or financial.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms for Belastung

🚨 Caution: Not all synonyms are interchangeable in every context. "Stress" doesn't fit for a financial burden, and "Gebühr" (fee) doesn't fit for psychological pressure.

😂 A little joke

German: Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: "Haben Sie zurzeit viel Stress?" Patient: "Nein, Herr Doktor, aber meine Kreditkarte hat eine hohe Belastung!"

English: The doctor asks the patient: "Are you under a lot of stress at the moment?" Patient: "No, doctor, but my credit card has a high charge (Belastung)!"

📜 Poem about the Belastung

German:
Manchmal drückt's auf die Seele schwer,
Die Last des Lebens, kommt oft daher.
Mal Geld, mal Sorgen, mal körperlich,
Die Belastung zeigt ihr Gesicht.
Doch auch wenn der Druck mal groß erscheint,
Wird's leichter, wenn man sich vereint.
Geteilte Last ist halbe Last,
So findet man auch wieder Rast.

English:
Sometimes it weighs heavily on the soul,
Life's burden often takes its toll.
Be it money, worries, or physical strain,
Die Belastung shows its face again.
But even when the pressure seems immense,
It gets lighter when unity commenences.
A burden shared is a burden halved,
Thus, rest and peace can soon be carved.

🧩 Little Riddle

German:
Ich kann auf deinen Schultern liegen,
Oder auf deinem Konto fliegen (als Minus!).
Ich kann dich psychisch sehr erschöpfen,
Oder Brücken fast zum Einsturz klopfen.
Was bin ich?

English:
I can lie upon your shoulders,
Or on your bank account smolder (as a debit!).
I can exhaust you psychologically,
Or make bridges wobble structurally.
What am I?

(Answer: die Belastung)

✨ More Tidbits

Word Formation: The noun "Belastung" is derived from the verb "belasten". "Belasten" means to load, to burden, to charge, or to subject someone/something to strain.

Common Compound Nouns (Komposita):

• Doppelbelastung: double burden (e.g., job and family)
• Umweltbelastung: environmental pollution/burden
• Geruchsbelastung: odor nuisance/burden
• Lärmbelastung: noise pollution/burden
• Steuerbelastung: tax burden
• Kostenbelastung: cost burden
• Fehlbelastung: incorrect loading/strain (e.g., in sports or on components)