die  Beschädigung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈʃɛːdɪɡʊŋ/

What does "die Beschädigung" mean? 🤔

Die Beschädigung (noun, feminine) refers to the state of something having suffered damage, or the act of causing damage itself. It signifies a reduction in the value, function, or integrity of an object or, less commonly, a person.

• State: The damage that has occurred to something (e.g., "Die Beschädigung am Auto war erheblich." - The damage to the car was significant.).
• Process/Act: The act of inflicting damage (e.g., "Die Beschädigung erfolgte durch Vandalismus." - The damage was caused by vandalism.).

⚠️ It's often used in the context of damage to property (like vehicles, buildings, devices). While it can technically refer to minor physical harm to people, the word "Verletzung" (injury) is much more common in that case.

Article rules for der, die, and das

Grammar in Detail: Die Beschädigung 🧐

"Beschädigung" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Example Sentences:

1. Die Beschädigung am Lack ist kaum zu sehen. (The damage to the paint is barely visible.)
2. Wegen der Beschädigung musste das Gerät repariert werden. (Because of the damage, the device had to be repaired.)
3. Der Mieter haftet für Beschädigungen an der Wohnung. (The tenant is liable for damages to the apartment.)
4. Nach dem Sturm gab es zahlreiche Beschädigungen an den Dächern. (After the storm, there was numerous damage to the roofs.)
5. Er meldete die Beschädigung seiner Versicherung. (He reported the damage to his insurance.)

How is "Beschädigung" used? 📝

"Beschädigung" is frequently used in formal and official contexts, especially concerning insurance claims, legal disputes, or technical reports.

• Property Damage: Very common for damage to objects (car, phone, building). E.g., "Die Beschädigung des Pakets während des Transports." (The damage to the package during transport.)
• Distinction from "Schaden": "Schaden" (damage, harm, loss) is the more general term. "Beschädigung" often emphasizes the physical aspect or the act of causing damage. For example, one speaks of "Sachbeschädigung" (property damage, a criminal offense), but of "finanzieller Schaden" (financial loss).
• Distinction from "Verletzung": For people, one typically uses "Verletzung" (injury). "Beschädigung" sounds impersonal in this context or is used at most for very minor impairments.
• Caution: In everyday language, "kaputt" (broken) or "defekt" (defective) can sound more natural than "beschädigt" (damaged) or "Beschädigung" when talking about simple objects (e.g., "Mein Handy ist kaputt" - My phone is broken, instead of "Mein Handy weist eine Beschädigung auf" - My phone shows damage).

How to remember "die Beschädigung" 🧠

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine. Think of: Die Rechnung (the bill), die Heizung (the heating), die Landung (the landing)... and therefore die Beschädigung. It ends in "-ung", so it's feminine!

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone causing a BASH (sounds like 'Beschäd-') which leads to DAMAGE ('-digung' sounds a bit like 'damage'). A bash causes Beschädigung (damage).

Similar and Opposite Terms ↔️

Similar, but distinct words:

• Verletzung (die): Injury (damage to the body of a living being).
• Zerstörung (die): Destruction (total annihilation, far beyond simple damage).

A Little Joke 😄

Warum hat der Computer eine Beschädigung gemeldet, nachdem er Nudelsuppe abbekommen hat?

Weil er jetzt einen "Pasta-Fehler" hatte! 🍝💻

(Why did the computer report damage after getting noodle soup on it? Because it now had a "Pasta error"! - Play on words: "Pasta" sounds like "passender" (suitable/matching) or is just literal pasta, and "Fehler" means error/mistake/flaw.)

A Poem about Beschädigung ✒️

Ein Kratzer hier, ein Riss so fein,
die Oberfläche nicht mehr rein.
Die Beschädigung, klein oder groß,
macht manches Ding ganz wertelos.

Am Auto, Handy, an der Wand,
ist sie oft außer Rand und Band.
Drum pass gut auf, halt alles lieb,
damit nichts eine Schramme kriegt.

---
A scratch right here, a crack so fine,
The surface isn't pure, doesn't shine.
The damage, whether small or vast,
Makes many things worthless, built to last.

On car, on phone, upon the wall,
It often goes beyond control.
So take good care, hold all things dear,
Lest any scratch should soon appear.

What am I? 🤔

Ich bin kein ganzer Bruch, kein völliger Verlust,
doch mindere den Wert, oft mit großem Frust.
An Lack, an Glas, an Holz kann ich entstehen,
nach einem Unfall bin ich oft zu sehen.

Man meldet mich der Versicherung schnell,
ob klein, ob groß, ob dunkel oder hell.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: Die Beschädigung

---
I'm not a total break, no complete loss incurred,
But I reduce the value, often with frustration spurred.
On paint, on glass, on wood I can arise,
After an accident, I often meet the eyes.

You report me quickly to the insurance claim,
Whether small or large, whether dark or bright in name.

What am I?
Answer: Die Beschädigung (The damage)

Other Information 🤓

Word Composition:

"Beschädigung" is derived from the verb "beschädigen" (to damage). It is composed of:

• be-: A prefix often indicating an effect on an object (to apply damage to something).
• Schaden: The noun meaning loss or impairment.
• -ig(en): Suffix used to form verbs from nouns/adjectives.
• -ung: Suffix used to nominalize the verb, denoting the process or result.

Legal Context: The term "Sachbeschädigung" (property damage) is a criminal offense in Germany (§ 303 StGB), penalizing the intentional or negligent damaging or destruction of another person's property.