to dismantle / reduce / mine
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to dismantle
To take something apart into its individual pieces or dismantle it, for example a tent, scaffolding, or furniture.
Nach dem Festival müssen wir das Zelt wieder abbauen.
After the festival, we have to dismantle the tent again.
'Abbauen' (to dismantle / reduce / mine) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' goes at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Wir bauen das Gerüst morgen ab.
We're dismantling the scaffolding tomorrow.
The verb consists of the prefix 'ab-' and the verb 'bauen' (to build). The prefix 'ab-' here often has the meaning of 'away', 'remove', or 'reduce'.
Das Unternehmen muss Personal abbauen, um Kosten zu sparen.
The company has to reduce staff in order to save costs.
You can recognize the meaning of 'abbauen' (to dismantle / reduce / mine) from the object: if it is an object such as a tent or furniture, it means 'demontieren' (to dismantle). With raw materials such as coal or ore, it means 'fördern' (to extract / mine). With abstract things such as stress or debt, it means 'reduzieren' (to reduce). Without an object, it describes a loss of strength.
Die Firma baut Stellen ab.
The company is cutting jobs.
In the abstract meaning 'reduzieren' (to reduce), 'abbauen' is often used with negative concepts or states. Typical combinations are: 'Stress abbauen' (to reduce stress), 'Vorurteile abbauen' (to reduce prejudices), 'Schulden abbauen' (to reduce debt), or 'Ängste abbauen' (to reduce fears).
Regelmäßige Pausen helfen dabei, Stress bei der Arbeit abzubauen.
Regular breaks help reduce stress at work.
In the meaning 'an Leistung verlieren' (to lose performance), 'abbauen' (to decline) is used without an accusative object. The subject is the person or living being that is becoming weaker. It is often combined with adverbs such as 'stark' (significantly), 'sichtlich' (visibly), or 'langsam' (slowly).
Seit seiner Krankheit hat mein Großvater geistig leider etwas abgebaut.
Since his illness, my grandfather has unfortunately declined somewhat mentally.
to win / gain
'gewinnen' and 'abbauen' can both be used for raw materials. Here, 'gewinnen' is more general and emphasizes that a substance is obtained, for example through a technical or natural process. 'abbauen' fits especially raw materials that are taken from the earth, such as coal, salt, or ore. The words can be confused because you can say that raw materials are 'gewonnen' (obtained/extracted) or 'abgebaut' (mined). 'abbauen' describes the work in the ground or in mining more precisely; 'gewinnen' describes the result more generally: that the substance is obtained.
In dieser Region wird seit vielen Jahren Salz abgebaut.
Salt has been mined in this region for many years.
Aus Sonnenlicht kann man Energie gewinnen.
Energy can be obtained from sunlight.