to depict / to map
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to depict
To represent someone or something visually, for example in a photo, a drawing, or a sculpture.
Dieses Gemälde bildet eine Szene aus der griechischen Mythologie ab.
This painting depicts a scene from Greek mythology.
'Abbilden' (to depict/to map) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'ab' goes at the end. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Das Foto bildet meine Großmutter als junge Frau ab.
The photo depicts my grandmother as a young woman.
The verb consists of the prefix 'ab-' and the verb 'bilden' (to form/create), which is related to 'das Bild' (the picture). Literally, it means to make a picture or representation of something.
Der Künstler wollte die Stimmung des Morgens abbilden.
The artist wanted to depict the mood of the morning.
The meaning depends strongly on the field. In everyday language, art, or photography, it means 'darstellen' (to represent/depict). In mathematics, computer science, or technology, it means 'zuordnen' (to map/assign).
Der Roman bildet das Leben im 19. Jahrhundert sehr genau ab.
The novel depicts life in the 19th century very accurately.
When something is being depicted, the medium is often introduced with 'in' or 'auf'. For example: 'jemanden auf einem Foto abbilden' (to depict someone in a photo) or 'eine Situation in einem Film abbilden' (to depict a situation in a film).
Die Statistik bildet die Entwicklung der letzten Jahre ab.
The statistics depict the development of the last few years.
In the mathematical meaning, a fixed structure is used: 'etwas auf etwas (Akkusativ) abbilden' (to map something onto something). This describes the assignment of elements from one set to another.
Die Projektion bildet den dreidimensionalen Raum auf eine zweidimensionale Ebene ab.
The projection maps three-dimensional space onto a two-dimensional plane.
to show
'zeigen' and 'abbilden' can both have to do with pictures and visible things. 'zeigen' means that something is made visible to someone, for example in a photo, on a phone, or by pointing to it. 'abbilden' more specifically means that a person or thing is depicted in a picture, photo, drawing, or sculpture. Learners may confuse the words because a photo shows something and at the same time depicts something. The difference is: 'zeigen' describes more the effect on the viewer, while 'abbilden' describes the representation in the image itself.
Das Plakat bildet eine alte Brücke über dem Fluss ab.
The poster depicts an old bridge over the river.
Lisa zeigt ihrer Freundin die Urlaubsfotos auf dem Handy.
Lisa shows her friend the vacation photos on her phone.