01
der Anblick
sight
What one sees; the visual perception of a scene, person, or object.
example
Der Anblick des Sonnenuntergangs über dem Meer war wunderschön.
The sight of the sunset over the sea was beautiful.
der Anblick
sight
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word structure
'Anblick' (sight) is made up of the prefix 'an-' and the noun 'der Blick' (look/view). It is what you perceive when you 'anblickt' (look at) something.
EXAMPLE
Der erste Blick auf die Stadt war beeindruckend, und auch der weitere Anblick enttäuschte nicht.
The first look at the city was impressive, and the further sight did not disappoint either.
Fixed expression
The phrase 'beim Anblick von etwas' (at the sight of something) is very common. It means 'when someone saw something' and often introduces a reaction to what was seen.
EXAMPLE
Beim Anblick der riesigen Spinne schrie sie laut auf.
At the sight of the huge spider, she screamed loudly.
Typical collocations
To describe an impression, 'Anblick' (sight) is almost always accompanied by an evaluative adjective. Typical examples are 'ein schöner/herrlicher Anblick' (a beautiful/magnificent sight) or 'ein furchtbarer/trauriger Anblick' (a terrible/sad sight).
EXAMPLE
Die Müllberge am Strand boten einen traurigen Anblick.
The piles of garbage on the beach presented a sad sight.
Compare with
Anblick vs Bild
picture / image
'das Bild' and 'der Anblick' can both mean what one sees. But 'Bild' is more general: it can be a scene you see in front of you, or also a representation such as a photo or painting. 'Anblick' refers more strongly to the direct visual impression at a particular moment. 'Anblick' often sounds evaluative, for example beautiful, sad, or surprising. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with seeing. When something is painted, photographed, or shown on a screen, 'Bild' usually fits. When you are talking about the impression of a real scene, 'Anblick' is often more precise.
Anblick
Der Anblick der leeren Straßen am frühen Morgen war ungewohnt.
The sight of the empty streets in the early morning was unusual.
Bild
Nach dem Sturm bot der Garten ein trauriges Bild.
After the storm, the garden presented a sad scene.
In real life
Loading video examples...