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.
to mine
To extract or mine raw materials such as coal, ore, or salt from the earth.
In dieser Region wird seit Jahrhunderten Kohle abgebaut.
Coal has been mined in this region for centuries.
to reduce
To decrease or reduce something, for example debt, staff, prejudices, or stress.
Durch Sport kann man effektiv Stress abbauen.
You can effectively reduce stress through exercise.
to decline
To lose performance, strength, or mental abilities; to become physically or mentally weaker.
Man merkt, dass der alte Hund in den letzten Monaten stark abgebaut hat.
You can tell that the old dog has declined significantly in the last few months.
'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 reduce
Both verbs can describe making a burden smaller. Abbauen is especially suitable when something that has accumulated, such as debt or stress, is gradually eliminated. Reduzieren neutrally describes a decrease in amount or intensity without emphasizing this gradual process.
Mit dem neuen Plan wollen wir unsere Schulden über mehrere Jahre schrittweise abbauen.
With the new plan, we want to gradually pay down our debt over several years.
Mit dem neuen Plan wollen wir unsere Schulden in diesem Jahr um zehn Prozent reduzieren.
With the new plan, we want to reduce our debt by ten percent this year.
