die
Kompromissbereitschaft
What does Kompromissbereitschaft mean? 🤔
Die Kompromissbereitschaft describes the ability and willingness of a person to move away from their own position in a disagreement or negotiation in order to reach an agreement acceptable to all parties involved. It's about making concessions (Zugeständnisse machen) and finding a middle ground (einen Mittelweg finden).
It's a quality often seen as positive and necessary for social interaction, negotiations (e.g., in politics and business), and relationships.
The word only takes the article 'die' because it's an abstract noun ending in "-schaft", which typically indicates feminine nouns in German.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ft/ -schaft → almost always feminine.
All -schaft nouns are feminine, but not all -ft nouns are.
Grammar Spotlight 🧐
Die Kompromissbereitschaft is a feminine noun. It is usually used only in the singular, as it describes an abstract quality.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kompromissbereitschaft |
| Genitive | der | Kompromissbereitschaft |
| Dative | der | Kompromissbereitschaft |
| Accusative | die | Kompromissbereitschaft |
A plural ('die Kompromissbereitschaften') is grammatically possible but very uncommon and would refer to specific, individual acts or instances of willingness to compromise.
Example Sentences
- In schwierigen Verhandlungen ist die Kompromissbereitschaft aller Parteien gefragt.
(In difficult negotiations, the willingness to compromise of all parties is required.) - Er zeigte große Kompromissbereitschaft, um den Streit zu beenden.
(He showed great willingness to compromise to end the argument.) - Ohne ein Mindestmaß an Kompromissbereitschaft kann eine Beziehung kaum funktionieren.
(Without a minimum level of willingness to compromise, a relationship can hardly work.)
How and When to Use Kompromissbereitschaft? 🤝
Die Kompromissbereitschaft is used in many contexts, especially when it comes to cooperation, conflict resolution, or finding common solutions:
- Politics & Diplomacy: It's often crucial in negotiations between parties or states.
- Professional Life: In teamwork or during negotiations with clients or business partners.
- Private Life: In partnerships, friendships, and families to resolve disagreements.
- Society: As a fundamental attitude for functional coexistence.
A high degree of Kompromissbereitschaft is usually viewed positively, but it can also be interpreted as weakness or yielding (Nachgiebigkeit) if excessive or leading to unfavorable outcomes.
Memory Aids Made Easy 🧠
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in "-schaft" are almost always feminine (die). Think of die Freundschaft (friendship), die Bereitschaft (readiness) → therefore also die Kompromissbereitschaft.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you are bereit (ready/willing) to make a Kompromiss (compromise). Both parts together form the quality: Kompromissbereitschaft - the readiness to compromise.
Similar & Opposite: Kompromissbereitschaft
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Entgegenkommen (das): Accommodatingness, willingness to meet someone halfway.
- Nachgiebigkeit (die): Compliance, yieldingness (can sometimes be negative).
- Flexibilität (die): Flexibility.
- Verhandlungsbereitschaft (die): Willingness to negotiate.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Sturheit (die): Stubbornness.
- Unnachgiebigkeit (die): Intransigence, unwillingness to yield.
- Starrsinn (der): Obstinacy.
- Kompromisslosigkeit (die): Uncompromisingness.
⚠️ Caution: Nachgiebigkeit can sometimes have a negative connotation (giving in too easily), whereas Kompromissbereitschaft is generally meant neutrally to positively.
A Little Chuckle 😄
Warum streiten sich zwei Kompromissbereite nie lange?
Weil sie sich immer in der Mitte treffen – und dann feststellen, dass dort die Schlange an der Kasse am kürzesten ist!
---
Why do two people willing to compromise never argue for long?
Because they always meet in the middle – and then realize that's where the checkout line is shortest!
A Little Poem
Zwei starre Fronten, kein Zurück,
das bringt am Ende selten Glück.
Doch mit 'nem Schritt, ganz unbeirrt,
auf den, der anders denkt, gewirkt,
mit Offenheit, nicht hart und schroff,
find't man die Lösung – Kompromiss, der Stoff,
aus dem die Einigkeit entsteht,
wenn Kompromissbereitschaft weht.
---
Two rigid fronts, no turning back,
rarely brings fortune on its track.
But with a step, quite undeterred,
towards the one whose thoughts differed,
with openness, not harsh and rough,
the solution's found – compromise, the stuff,
from which the unity is made,
when willingness to compromise is swayed.
Riddle Time! 🕵️♀️
Ich bin kein Ding, doch werd' gezeigt,
wenn Sturheit weicht und Streit sich neigt.
Ich helfe Brücken aufzubauen,
statt stur auf Mauern nur zu schauen.
In Politik und auch im Lieben,
bin ich gefragt, um nicht zu kriegen
am Ende Zwist, sondern 'nen Pakt.
Wie heiß' ich wohl, im nächsten Akt?
Lösung: Die Kompromissbereitschaft
---
I am not a thing, but I am shown,
when stubbornness has flown and conflict's tone
begins to soften. I help build a bridge,
instead of just staring at a stubborn ridge.
In politics and also love,
I'm needed, sent from up above,
to avoid strife and make a pact.
What is my name, in the next act?
Solution: (Die) Kompromissbereitschaft / Willingness to compromise
Interesting Tidbits 🤓
Word Composition:
The word 'Kompromissbereitschaft' is a compound noun (Kompositum). It consists of:
- Kompromiss (der): A solution to disagreements through mutual concessions.
- Bereitschaft (die): Readiness or willingness to do something.
Together, the meaning is: The readiness to make a compromise.
The suffix "-schaft" often forms abstract nouns indicating a state, quality, or collective (e.g., Freundschaft - friendship, Landschaft - landscape, Bereitschaft - readiness).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kompromissbereitschaft?
The word Kompromissbereitschaft is feminine. The correct article is die. So, it is always: die Kompromissbereitschaft.
