Ramon
zerbrechen und brechen What is the difference between zerbrechen and brechen??? :S Danke!
Jul 20, 2016 9:58 PM
Answers · 3
1
That's right, Sumeet :) The verb "zerbrechen" emphasizes the breaking of a certain material (esp. glass, china, plate etc.) into pieces. The best translation would be "to crack". The verb "brechen" has several meanings. In comparison to "zerbrechen", however, the difference is that it just describes the breaking (with or without cracking). The best translation would be "to break". Examples: Er zerbricht das Glas. Das Porzellan ist zerbrochen. But: Die Achse des Autos ist gebrochen. Also: Es bricht mir das Herz. (It breaks my heart.)
July 20, 2016
1
To the best of my knowledge, "brechen" can be used in a much more general sense. The prefix "zer-" indicates complete dissolution (in fact, "dis-" in Latin is a cognate). So "zerbrechen" could mean "broken to bits" or something like that. Native German speakers can feel free to correct me.
July 20, 2016
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Ramon
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), Dutch, English, German, Portuguese, Swedish, Thai
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), German, Portuguese, Thai