die
Rezension
📖 What exactly is a Rezension?
Die Rezension (feminine, plural: die Rezensionen) refers to a critical discussion or assessment, usually in written form. It typically relates to works of art (like books, films, music), products, or services.
It represents a subjective, but often reasoned, expression of opinion that can serve as guidance for others.
Example: A Buchrezension (book review) analyzes the content, style, and impact of a book.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: die Rezension
The word "Rezension" is a feminine noun. The article is "die".
Declension Singular
This table shows how 'die Rezension' changes in the singular depending on its grammatical case.
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rezension | (the review) |
| Genitive | der | Rezension | (of the review) |
| Dative | der | Rezension | (to/for the review) |
| Akkusative | die | Rezension | (the review) |
Declension Plural
This table shows how 'die Rezensionen' (the reviews) changes in the plural.
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rezensionen | (the reviews) |
| Genitive | der | Rezensionen | (of the reviews) |
| Dative | den | Rezensionen | (to/for the reviews) |
| Akkusative | die | Rezensionen | (the reviews) |
Example Sentences for Grammar
- Die Rezension des neuen Films war sehr positiv. (The review of the new film was very positive.)
- Ich stimme der Rezension nicht zu. (I don't agree with the review.)
- Hast du die Rezensionen gelesen? (Have you read the reviews?)
- Aufgrund der vielen schlechten Rezensionen kaufe ich das Produkt nicht. (Because of the many bad reviews, I am not buying the product.)
🗣️ How to use "Rezension"?
"Rezension" is used when talking about a formal or informal evaluation. Here are some typical contexts:
- Literaturkritik (Literary criticism): A Rezension of a novel in a newspaper.
- Filmkritik (Film criticism): Someone writes a Rezension about the latest movie.
- Produktbewertung (Product review): Online Rezensionen for a smartphone or a hotel.
- Wissenschaft (Academia): A Rezension of a scholarly article (peer review).
Unlike a simple Meinung (opinion), a Rezension is often more structured and attempts to provide arguments for the assessment. It's more specific than the word Kritik (criticism), which can also have negative connotations, whereas a Rezension can also be positive.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Imagine a female critic – SHE (die) is the person writing DIE Rezension. Feminine German nouns often end in "-ion", like Diskussion, Nation, Religion – and also Rezension. This helps remember "die".
Meaning Mnemonic: "Rezension" sounds a bit like "re-censor" or "re-vision". You re-view or re-examine something (a book, a film) and essentially give it a 'censor's' mark by evaluating and discussing it.
↔️ Opposites and Similarities: Die Rezension
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Besprechung: (Discussion/Review) Often interchangeable, emphasizes the discursive character.
- Kritik: (Critique/Criticism) Can be neutral, but often associated with negative evaluation.
- Beurteilung: (Assessment/Judgment) Focuses on the verdict, often more formal.
- Bewertung: (Rating/Evaluation) More general term for an assessment, often using grades or stars.
- Gutachten: (Expert Opinion/Report) Very formal, often an expert assessment.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
Direct antonyms are difficult. Depending on the context, one might use:
- Lob/Lobeshymne: (Praise/Panegyric) If the Rezension is very negative, the opposite would be an effusively positive statement.
- Empfehlung: (Recommendation) A Rezension can be positive and include a recommendation, but the word itself isn't a direct opposite.
- Werbung/Anpreisung: (Advertising/Promotion) A Rezension should ideally be objective; advertising is biased.
⚠️ Caution: Do not confuse with Revision (revision, audit) or Rezeption (reception, front desk).
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Verleger den Autor: "Haben Sie schon die Rezension zu Ihrem neuen Buch gelesen?"
Autor: "Ja, furchtbar! Aber zum Glück hat sie nur einen Stern – die kann ja keiner ernst nehmen!"
Translation:
The publisher asks the author: "Have you read the review of your new book yet?"
Author: "Yes, dreadful! But luckily, it only got one star – nobody can take that seriously!"
✒️ A Poem about the Rezension
Ein Buch gelesen, ein Film geschaut,
Gedanken fließen, leise und laut.
War's gut, war's schlecht, was bleibt zurück?
Die Rezension formt Stück für Stück.
Mit Worten wägt sie, lobt, tadelt fein,
Ein Urteil, klar und allgemein?Nein, subjektiv, doch gut bedacht,
So wird die Rezension gemacht.
Translation:
A book been read, a film been seen,
Thoughts start to flow, quiet and keen.
Was it good, was it bad, what's left behind?
The review takes shape within the mind.
With words it weighs, praises, gently blames,
A judgment clear, for all the names?
No, subjective, yet well-considered, true,
That's how the review comes through.
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich bin geschrieben, doch kein Brief,
Ich bewerte tief.
Ein Film, ein Buch, ein neues Spiel,
Mein Urteil ist oft das Ziel.
Mal Lob, mal Tadel bring ich dar,
Für Leser, Hörer, Käuferschar.
Was bin ich? (... Die Rezension)
Translation:
I am written, but not a letter,
I evaluate things, make them seem better or wetter.
A film, a book, a brand new game,
My judgment is often the aim.
Sometimes praise, sometimes blame I present,
For readers, listeners, buyers sent.
What am I?
(... The review / die Rezension)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Wortherkunft (Word Origin): The German word "Rezension" comes from the Latin word recensio, meaning "examination", "inspection", or "review". It is related to recensere ("to inspect", "to review").
Typical Collocations (Typische Verbindungen):
- eine Rezension schreiben (to write a review)
- eine Rezension veröffentlichen (to publish a review)
- eine Rezension lesen (to read a review)
- eine positive/negative/vernichtende Rezension (a positive/negative/scathing review)
- Online-Rezension (online review)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rezension?
The word "Rezension" is feminine. The correct article is die Rezension. The plural is die Rezensionen.