die  Beschreibung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈʃʁaɪ̯bʊŋ/

📖 What exactly is "Beschreibung"?

Die Beschreibung (noun, feminine) means the description, account, or depiction of something or someone, usually in words, but sometimes also visually. It's about conveying characteristics, features, or processes in detail.

• A verbal or written representation of features, characteristics, states, or processes.
• A characterization or portrayal.

⚠️ Pay attention: The word ends in -ung, which is almost always a sign of a feminine noun (die) in German.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Beschreibung

The noun 'Beschreibung' is feminine. The article is die.

Declension (Cases)

Example Sentences

1. Die Beschreibung des Hauses war sehr detailliert.
   (The description of the house was very detailed.)
2. Ich habe die Beschreibung des Problems gelesen.
   (I have read the description of the problem.)
3. Laut der Beschreibung ist das Gerät einfach zu bedienen.
   (According to the description, the device is easy to operate.)
4. Wir brauchen eine genaue Beschreibung des Vorfalls.
   (We need an exact description of the incident.)
5. Die Beschreibungen der verschiedenen Produkte halfen bei der Auswahl.
   (The descriptions of the different products helped with the selection.)

✍️ How to Use "Beschreibung"?

'Die Beschreibung' is used when you want to characterize, explain, or depict something or someone. You often find the word in:

• Produktbeschreibungen: Details about goods or services (product descriptions).
• Personenbeschreibungen: Appearance, character of a person (personal descriptions).
• Wegbeschreibungen: Explaining how to get to a place (directions).
• Aufgabenbeschreibungen: What needs to be done in a job or project (task descriptions).
• Wissenschaftlichen Texten: Presenting observations or experiments (scientific descriptions).

It's always about conveying information so that someone else can form an idea or picture. A gute Beschreibung (good description) is clear, precise, and understandable.

🧠 Memory Aids for Beschreibung

Article Aid: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of: die Meinung (opinion), die Rechnung (bill), die Wohnung (apartment)... and, of course, die Beschreibung! It's like a ruling (die Regelung)!

Meaning Aid: 'Beschreibung' contains 'schreiben' (to write). You write down how something is – you give a description.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms (Similar Meaning)

• Darstellung: Often more neutral, can also be graphic (representation, portrayal).
• Schilderung: Often more vivid, picturesque (portrayal, depiction).
• Erläuterung: Emphasizes explaining and making understandable (explanation, clarification).
• Charakterisierung: Focuses on essential features, often of people (characterization).
• Protokoll: Factual, often chronological description of a process (protocol, minutes).

Antonyms (Opposites)

A direct antonym is difficult. However, one could consider:

• Andeutung: Only vague hints instead of details (hint, suggestion).
• Verschweigen: The opposite of revealing through description (concealment, keeping silent).
• Kurzfassung / Zusammenfassung: Gives only the main points, not the details of a description (summary, abstract).

Potential Confusion

• Vorschrift: An instruction on what to do (regulation, rule), though it might contain a description.
• Bericht: A factual account of events (report), often containing descriptive elements.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Mathematiker eine schlechte Personenbeschreibung abgegeben?
Weil er immer nur die Variablen sah! 😄

(Why did the mathematician give a bad character description?
Because he only ever saw the variables!)

📜 Poem about Beschreibung

Ein Bild, ein Haus, ein ferner Klang,
wie fass ich's nur, mein Leben lang?
Mit Worten fein, genau und klar,
wird Fremdes plötzlich offenbar.
Die Beschreibung, Wort für Wort,
trägt die Gedanken an den Ort.

(A picture, a house, a distant sound,
How can I grasp it, all life long around?
With words so fine, precise and clear,
What once was strange, will now appear.
The description, word by word you see,
Carries the thoughts to where they should be.)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich male mit Worten, ganz ohne Pinsel und Stift.
Ich zeige dir Dinge, auch wenn's sie nicht wirklich gibt.
Je genauer ich bin, desto klarer das Bild im Kopf.
Ich helfe beim Finden, beim Kaufen, beim Lernen von Stoff.

Was bin ich?

(I paint with words, without brush or pen.
I show you things, even if unreal then.
The more precise I am, the clearer the image in your head.
I help with finding, buying, learning what's read.)

(What am I?)
(Solution: die Beschreibung / the description)

💡 Other Interesting Info

Word Formation:

The word 'Beschreibung' is composed of:

• The verb 'beschreiben' (to describe), which itself comes from the prefix 'be-' + 'schreiben' (to write).
• The suffix '-ung', which turns verbs into nouns (nominalization) and usually assigns them the feminine gender (die).

International Equivalents:

• English: description
• French: description
• Spanish: descripción
• Italian: descrizione

You can see the common Latin root ('describere').