to lead away / pay
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to lead away
To lead a person, especially someone who has been arrested or a prisoner, away from a place by force.
Die Polizei konnte den Verdächtigen festnehmen und abführen.
The police were able to arrest the suspect and lead him away.
'Abführen' is a separable verb. In main clauses, the prefix 'ab-' stands at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu,' the verb stays together.
Die Polizei führt den Dieb ab.
The police lead the thief away.
The verb consists of the prefix 'ab-' (away) and 'führen' (to lead, to guide). The basic idea is always that something is 'led away' from a place: a person, money, heat, or intestinal contents.
Der Schornstein führt den Rauch sicher ab.
The chimney safely carries the smoke away.
You can almost always recognize the meaning of 'abführen' from the object. If it is a person, it is about an arrest. With money, it is about taxes. With heat or liquids, it is about technology.
Der Täter wurde sofort abgeführt.
The perpetrator was led away immediately.
In the financial meaning, 'abführen' is almost always used with words like 'Steuern' (taxes), 'Abgaben' (levies/contributions), or 'Beiträge' (contributions). The tax office or health insurance fund is often named as the recipient.
Die Mehrwertsteuer wird direkt an das Finanzamt abgeführt.
The value-added tax is paid directly to the tax office.
In a medical context, 'abführen' can also be used without an object or appear as the adjective 'abführend' (laxative). It then describes the effect of a food or medication.
Pflaumen können abführend wirken.
Plums can have a laxative effect.
to pay
'zahlen' and 'abführen' can both mean that money goes to someone. 'zahlen' is the normal general word: you pay a bill, a price, or a debt. 'abführen' only fits in special situations where an amount owed is passed on to the responsible authority, for example taxes or social security contributions. It sounds much more formal and often bureaucratic. In everyday life, people usually say 'zahlen'. 'abführen' is more precise when talking about mandatory payments to authorities or funds.
Die Firma führt jeden Monat Steuern an das Finanzamt ab.
The company pays taxes to the tax office every month.
Kannst du bitte an der Kasse zahlen, während ich die Taschen packe?
Could you please pay at the checkout while I pack the bags?