die  Reduktion

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʁeduˈktsi̯oːn/

📉 What does "die Reduktion" mean?

Die Reduktion (feminine) is a noun describing various types of decrease, simplification, or bringing back.

The main meanings are:

• Reduction/Decrease: The most common meaning. It refers to lowering a quantity, price, weight, speed, etc. (e.g., die Reduktion der Kosten - the reduction of costs, die Reduktion des CO2-Ausstoßes - the reduction of CO2 emissions).
• Simplification: Bringing something complex back to a simpler form or to its essential points (e.g., die Reduktion eines Problems auf seine Kernpunkte - the reduction of a problem to its core points).
• Chemical Reduction: A specific technical term in chemistry describing the gain of electrons by an atom, ion, or molecule. It's the opposite of oxidation.
• Culinary Reduction: Simmering a liquid (like a sauce or stock) to concentrate it and intensify its flavor, resulting in a Reduktion.

Since the word ends in "-tion", it's typically feminine (die Reduktion). There are no exceptions or common mistakes regarding the article here. ⚠️ Be careful not to confuse it entirely with "Reduzierung", although they are often used synonymously. "Reduktion" often sounds a bit more formal or technical.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Reduktion

The noun "Reduktion" is feminine. It is declined as follows:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Firma kündigte eine Reduktion der Mitarbeiterzahl an.
   (The company announced a reduction in the number of employees.)
2. Durch die Reduktion der Geschwindigkeit konnte ein Unfall vermieden werden.
   (By reducing the speed, an accident could be avoided.)
3. In der Chemie ist die Reduktion die Aufnahme von Elektronen.
   (In chemistry, reduction is the gain of electrons.)
4. Die Reduktion der Sauce dauert etwa 20 Minuten.
   (The reduction of the sauce takes about 20 minutes.)
5. Wir diskutierten verschiedene Reduktionen des Budgets.
   (We discussed various reductions of the budget.)

💡 How to use "Reduktion"?

"Reduktion" is often used in more formal or technical contexts, but can also appear in everyday language.

• Economics/Finance: Preisreduktion (price reduction), Kostenreduktion (cost reduction), Budgetreduktion (budget reduction). Here, it refers to lowering numerical values.
• Science/Technology: Datenreduktion (data reduction), Dimensionsreduktion (dimensionality reduction - mathematics), chemische Reduktion (chemical reduction). Here, it often describes simplification or a specific process.
• Environment/Politics: Reduktion der Emissionen (reduction of emissions), Reduktion des Energieverbrauchs (reduction of energy consumption). Refers to decreasing impacts or consumption.
• Everyday Life/Health: Gewichtsreduktion (weight reduction), Reduktion von Stress (reduction of stress). Usually means a decrease.
• Cooking: Simmering liquids to create a Reduktion (culinary reduction).

Comparison:

• Reduzierung: Often synonymous with Reduktion (meaning decrease), sometimes slightly less formal.
• Verringerung/Minderung: More general terms for becoming less.
• Kürzung: Often refers to budgets, salaries, or texts; has a more active connotation of cutting away.
• Vereinfachung: Emphasizes making things simpler, not necessarily decreasing quantity.

🧠 Mnemonics for Reduktion

1. For the article (die):

   Many German nouns ending in -tion are feminine ('die'), like die Aktion, die Information. Think: A big operation ('die Operation') leads to a 'die Reduktion' (of the problem).

2. For the meaning (reduction/simplification):

   Think of the English word 'reduction'. The German 'Reduktion' looks and sounds very similar and means the same thing. Imagine 'reducing' something complex – 'die Reduktion' makes it less.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

🚨 Caution: Not every synonym fits every context!

😂 A Little Joke

Chef fragt: "Haben wir schon eine Reduktion der Arbeitszeit erreicht?"
Mitarbeiter antwortet: "Ja, Chef! Ich brauche jetzt nur noch 5 Minuten, um meine Kaffeetasse zu finden!"

Translation:

Boss asks: "Have we achieved a reduction in working hours yet?"
Employee replies: "Yes, boss! It only takes me 5 minutes to find my coffee mug now!"

✍️ Poem about Reduktion

Die Kosten steigen, welch ein Graus,
Da hilft nur eins, wir müssen raus
Aus alten Mustern, teuer, schwer,
Eine Reduktion muss dringend her.

Weniger Müll, mehr reines Sein,
Die Komplexität wird wieder klein.
Ob Preis, ob Stress, ob CO2,
Die Reduktion macht vieles neu.

Translation:

The costs are rising, what a dread,
Just one thing helps, we must instead
Leave old ways, costly, hard to bear,
A reduction must be brought here.

Less waste, more purity inside,
Complexity will shrink and hide.
Be it price, or stress, or CO2,
The reduction makes much anew.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich mache weniger aus mehr,
Bring' Preise runter, das ist nicht schwer.
In Chemie bin ich Elektronengewinn,
Und mach' die Sauce dick, das hat 'nen Sinn.

Was bin ich?

Translation:

I make less out of more,
Bring prices down, that's not a chore.
In chemistry, I'm electron gain,
And thicken sauce, there's sense again.

What am I?

Solution: die Reduktion

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Word Origin:

The German word "Reduktion" comes from the Latin verb reducere, meaning "to lead back", "to bring back", or "to diminish". It consists of re- ("back") and ducere ("to lead").

Compound Words:

"Reduktion" is often part of compound nouns (Komposita) to specify the area of reduction:

• Preisreduktion (price reduction)
• Kostenreduktion (cost reduction)
• Gewichtsreduktion (weight reduction)
• Datenreduktion (data reduction)
• Emissionsreduktion (emission reduction)
• Stressreduktion (stress reduction)