betrachten

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch betrachten (“to look at, to observe”), from Old Dutch *bitrahton. Equivalent to be- +‎ trachten.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bəˈtrɑxtə(n)/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: be‧trach‧ten
• Rhymes: -ɑxtən

Verb

betrachten

1. (transitive) to exercise or consider carefully
2. (Belgium) to pursue

   Synonyms: nastreven, beogen

Usage notes

The verb in the meaning "to exercise carefully" is limited to a number of expressions, like:

• zijn plicht betrachten - to acquit oneself of one's duty
• de nodige zorgvuldigheid betrachten - to exercise due care

Inflection

Derived terms

• betrachting

References

• Taaladvies.net (in Dutch)

German

Etymology

From Middle High German betrahten from Old High German bitrahtōn. Equivalent to be- +‎ trachten.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /bəˈtʁaχtən/,

Verb

betrachten (weak, third-person singular present betrachtet, past tense betrachtete, past participle betrachtet, auxiliary haben)

1. (transitive) to look at, to consider, to behold

   Betrachtest du dich gerne im Spiegel?

   Do you like to look at yourself in the mirror?

2. (intransitive, usually with als (“as”)) to regard, to consider, look upon (something in a certain way)

   Ich betrachte dich als meinen Freund.

   I consider you to be my friend.

Conjugation

Synonyms

• (consider): anglotzen, angucken, anschauen, anstarren, beäugeln, beäugen, beaugenscheinigen, begucken, belauern, beleuchten, beluchsen, beobachten, beschauen, besehen, besichtigen, fixieren, inspizieren, kiebitzen, spannen
• (regard): abschätzen, auffassen, beurteilen, charakterisieren, einschätzen, erachten, begutachten, bewerten, einschätzen, halten für, interpretieren, urteilen, werten

Derived terms

• Betracht
• Betrachter
• Betrachterin
• Betrachtung

Further reading

• “betrachten” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “betrachten” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “betrachten” in Duden online
• “betrachten” in OpenThesaurus.de