die  Chance

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃɑ̃ːsə/

🍀 What does "die Chance" mean?

Die Chance (feminine) refers to a favorable opportunity or possibility to achieve, get, or do something. It can also mean a prospect of success or the probability (or likelihood) of a certain event occurring.

• Opportunity/Possibility: A situation that allows one to do or achieve something specific. Example: Das ist deine letzte Chance, das Ticket zu kaufen. (This is your last chance to buy the ticket.)
• Prospect/Outlook: The likelihood of something positive happening. Example: Die Chancen auf Heilung stehen gut. (The chances of recovery are good.)
• Risk (less common, often negated): Sometimes used in the context of risk, often in phrases like "keine Chance eingehen" (to take no chances). Example: Er wollte keine Chance eingehen und prüfte alles doppelt. (He didn't want to take any chances and double-checked everything.)
• Luck/Coincidence (original meaning): The word's origin from French ("chance" = luck, coincidence, luck of the dice) sometimes still plays a role, but it's less often the main meaning in modern usage.

⚠️ Pay attention: The word is feminine: die Chance.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Chance

"Chance" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.

Declension

Example Sentences

• Nominative: Die Chance war einmalig. (The chance was unique.)
• Genitive: Trotz der geringen Chance versuchte er es. (Despite the small chance, he tried it.)
• Dative: Er gab ihr mit dieser Chance neue Hoffnung. (He gave her new hope with this chance.)
• Accusative: Er nutzte die Chance sofort. (He seized the chance immediately.)
• Plural: Wir hatten viele Chancen, aber haben sie nicht genutzt. (We had many chances, but didn't use them.)

💡 How "die Chance" is used

Die Chance is a very common word in German and is used in many contexts:

• Work & Career: eine berufliche Chance (a career opportunity), die Chance auf Beförderung (the chance of promotion), eine Chance am Arbeitsmarkt (a chance in the job market)
• Personal Development: eine Chance zur Veränderung (a chance for change), die Chance nutzen, etwas Neues zu lernen (to use the chance to learn something new)
• Sports: eine Torchance (a chance to score a goal), die letzte Chance auf den Sieg (the last chance for victory)
• Everyday Life: die Chance auf gutes Wetter (the chance of good weather), die Chance, jemanden kennenzulernen (the chance to meet someone)
• Mathematics/Statistics: die Chance auf einen Lottogewinn (the chance/probability of winning the lottery)

Typical Phrases

• eine Chance geben/bekommen: to give/get a chance.
• eine Chance nutzen/ergreifen/wahrnehmen: to seize/take/use a chance.
• eine Chance verpassen/vergeben: to miss/pass up a chance.
• Chancen und Risiken abwägen: to weigh up chances and risks.
• keine Chance haben: to have no chance, to stand no chance.
• die Chancen stehen gut/schlecht: the chances are good/bad.

Comparison with similar words

• Möglichkeit (possibility): More neutral than Chance, often just indicates the existence of an option without the positive connotation of favorability. (Es gibt die Möglichkeit zu scheitern - There is a possibility of failing vs. Es gibt die Chance zu gewinnen - There is a chance of winning.)
• Gelegenheit (opportunity): Very similar to Chance, often interchangeable. Sometimes Gelegenheit emphasizes the suitable moment or circumstance more. (Bei dieser Gelegenheit möchte ich mich bedanken. - On this occasion, I would like to say thank you.)

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Chance"

Article Mnemonic (die)

Think of the French origin "la chance" - the feminine "la" helps you remember die Chance. Alternatively, imagine a queen (die Königin - feminine) giving you the chance of a lifetime.

Meaning Mnemonic (Opportunity, Possibility)

A Chance is like an open door (Türe) – you just have to walk through it to seize it. The common "e" ending in feminine German nouns might help link it. Or think: "Take a chance, enhance your circumstance!"

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for "die Chance"

⚠️ Similar Words

While not direct synonyms or antonyms, concepts like Schicksal (fate, destiny) or Zufall (coincidence, chance) are sometimes discussed in context but have different meanings.

😄 A Little Joke

DE: Warum hat der Pessimist nie eine zweite Chance?
Weil er schon bei der ersten Chance glaubt, dass sie sowieso nicht klappt!

EN: Why does a pessimist never get a second chance?
Because even with the first chance, he believes it won't work out anyway!

📜 A Little Poem

DE: Ein Moment, ganz kurz und klein,
Die Chance lädt dich freundlich ein.
Greifst du zu mit Mut und Kraft,
Ist oft Großes schnell geschafft.
Lässt du sie vorüberzieh'n,
Musst auf neue Chancen flieh'n.

EN Translation: A moment, very short and small,
The chance invites you kindly, standing tall.
If you grab it with courage and might,
Great things are often achieved, shining bright.
If you let it pass you by,
You must seek new chances, aiming high.

🧩 Riddle

DE: Ich komme oft unerwartet, manchmal klopfe ich leise an.
Manche ergreifen mich, andere lassen mich zieh'n.
Ich kann Erfolg bringen, doch bin keine Garantie.
Man sagt, ich sei weiblich und man soll mich nutzen, wenn ich da bin.

Was bin ich?

EN: I often come unexpectedly, sometimes I knock softly.
Some seize me, others let me go.
I can bring success, but I am no guarantee.
They say I am feminine and you should use me when I'm there.

What am I?

✨ Other Interesting Information

Word Origin: The word "Chance" comes from French. Old French "cheance" originally meant "fall" (in the sense of how the dice fall), thus luck or coincidence. In German, this meaning of luck/coincidence has somewhat receded in favor of the meaning "favorable opportunity".

Compounds: The word is part of many compound nouns, e.g., Chancengleichheit (equal opportunity), Torchance (chance to score), Aufstiegschance (chance for promotion), Gewinnchance (chance to win), Lebenschance (life chance).