die  Regung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʁeːvʊŋ/

What does 'die Regung' mean? 🤔

The word die Regung (noun, feminine) has several related meanings:

• Slight, barely perceptible movement: A minimal physical movement or twitch. Example: Man sah keine Regung in seinem Gesicht. (One saw no sign of movement/emotion in his face.)
• Inner impulse or stirring: An emerging thought, feeling, or desire. Example: Er verspürte die erste Regung von Mitleid. (He felt the first stirring of pity.)
• Sign of life or activity: Often used negatively to emphasize the absence of any activity. Example: Im verlassenen Haus gab es keinerlei Regung. (There was no sign of life/movement whatsoever in the abandoned house.)

Essentially, 'Regung' describes an initial, often faint, indication of movement, whether physical or emotional.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammatical Details: Die Regung

Die Regung is a feminine noun.

Example Sentences

1. Trotz der überraschenden Nachricht zeigte ihr Gesicht keinerlei Regung.
   (Despite the surprising news, her face showed no sign of emotion/movement.)
2. Eine plötzliche Regung des Zweifels überkam ihn.
   (A sudden impulse/stirring of doubt overcame him.)
3. Die ersten Regungen des Frühlings sind in der Natur sichtbar.
   (The first stirrings of spring are visible in nature.)
4. Er unterdrückte jede Regung von Ärger.
   (He suppressed every flicker/stirring of anger.)

When to use 'die Regung'? Context & Tips

Die Regung is often used to describe subtle changes or the lack thereof.

• Keine Regung zeigen: A very common phrase meaning to show no emotion or to remain outwardly unmoved (think poker face!).
• Erste Regung(en): Describes the first emergence of a feeling, thought, or movement (e.g., erste Regung von Hunger - first pang of hunger, erste Regungen des Protests - first stirrings of protest).
• Innere Regung: Emphasizes the emotional or mental aspect (inner stirring/emotion).
• Unwillkürliche Regung: An involuntary movement or feeling.

There's little risk of confusion with other words, as 'Regung' is quite specific. It's more subtle than Bewegung (movement, which can also be large) and often more specific than Gefühl (feeling, as 'Regung' can also be a physical movement).

A Little Memory Aid for 'Regung' 🧠

For the article: Think of DIE Emotion, DIE Bewegung (movement) – both are feminine, and 'Regung' fits right in. Or: A woman's heart (DIE Frau) often shows subtle Regungen (stirrings/emotions).

For the meaning: Think of something that 'stirs' or 'moves slightly' (from the verb sich regen). A 'Regung' is the result of this stirring – a small movement or an emerging feeling. It sounds a bit like 'raising' (a feeling raising up).

Similar & Opposite Terms for 'Regung' 🔄

A Touch of Humor 😂

Warum zeigen Statuen keine Regung, wenn man ihnen einen Witz erzählt?
(Why do statues show no reaction (Regung) when you tell them a joke?)

Weil sie schon steinhart lachen!
(Because they're already laughing their heads off! - Lit: laughing stone-hard)

Thoughts in Verse 📜

Ein stiller See, kein Wind sich rührt,
(A silent lake, no wind does stir,)
Kein Blatt sich leicht im Tanze führt.
(No leaf performs a dancing blur.)
Doch tief im Innern, ungesehn,
(But deep inside, unseen, unknown,)
Kann eine leise Regung entstehn.
(A quiet stirring can be sown.)
Ein Funke nur, ein zarter Hauch,
(A spark alone, a tender breath,)
Verändert still den Seelenrauch.
(Can change the soul's own smoky wreath.)
Mal ist's ein Zweifel, mal ein Glück,
(Sometimes it's doubt, sometimes it's bliss,)
Die kleinste Regung kehrt zurück.
(The smallest stirring comes amiss or brings a kiss.)

Who am I? A Riddle... 🤔

Ich bin oft unsichtbar und klein,
(I am often invisible and small,)
Kann Freude, Angst, Bewegung sein.
(Can be joy, fear, movement for all.)
Im Herzen fühlst du mich zuerst,
(In the heart you feel me first,)
Auch wenn du äußerlich erstarrst.
(Even when outwardly you're cursed with stiffness.)

Manchmal zeigst du mich gar nicht,
(Sometimes you don't show me at all,)
Dein Pokerface verbirgt mein Licht.
(Your poker face hides my light's call.)
Doch bin ich da, ganz tief und leis,
(But I am there, quite deep and low,)
Ein innerer, geheimer Kreis.
(An inner, secret circle's flow.)

Was bin ich?
(What am I?)(Solution: die Regung - the stirring, impulse, flicker of emotion/movement)

Trivia & Word Formation 🤓

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

The word 'Regung' is a nominalization (forming a noun) of the verb 'regen' (to stir, to move, to become active). The suffix '-ung' is commonly used in German to form feminine nouns from verbs, often denoting the process or result of the action (e.g., bewegen (to move) -> die Bewegung (movement), hoffen (to hope) -> die Hoffnung (hope), reg(en) -> die Regung).