atmen
to breathe
To draw air into the lungs and expel it again in order to supply the body with oxygen.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem schnellen Lauf musste er erst einmal tief atmen.
After the fast run, he first had to breathe deeply.
atmen
to breathe
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Meanings
atmen
to breathe
In a figurative sense, to radiate or embody a particular atmosphere or quality.
EXAMPLE
Dieses alte Haus atmet Geschichte.
This old house breathes history.
Usage tips
Word family
'Atmen' (to breathe) is the base verb for many important verbs with prefixes that describe a direction or type of breathing. Examples are 'einatmen' (to breathe in), 'ausatmen' (to breathe out), and 'durchatmen' (often to breathe a sigh of relief).
EXAMPLE
Bitte atmen Sie tief ein und halten Sie die Luft an.
Please breathe in deeply and hold your breath.
Typical adverbs
To describe the manner of breathing, 'atmen' (to breathe) is often combined with adverbs. Common combinations are 'tief atmen' (to breathe deeply), 'schwer atmen' (to breathe heavily), 'ruhig atmen' (to breathe calmly), or 'flach atmen' (to breathe shallowly).
EXAMPLE
Der Patient atmete nach der Anstrengung sehr schwer.
The patient was breathing very heavily after the exertion.
Figurative meaning
In the figurative meaning, 'atmen' (to breathe) is not used for living beings, but for places or things. The subject is then usually a building, a room, or a landscape that radiates a particular atmosphere.
EXAMPLE
Die alte Bibliothek atmet den Geist vergangener Jahrhunderte.
The old library breathes the spirit of past centuries.
Compare with
atmen vs verkörpern
to embody / portray
Atmen and verkörpern can be used figuratively to express that something shows a quality or idea. „Atmen“ describes more of an atmosphere that can be felt everywhere, while „verkörpern“ presents something as a clear, concrete example. Use „atmen“ for the mood and „verkörpern“ for the visible representation.
atmen
In jedem Raum atmet das alte Rathaus die Geschichte der Stadt.
The old town hall breathes the city’s history in every room.
verkörpern
Das alte Rathaus verkörpert die Geschichte der Stadt in seiner Fassade.
The old town hall embodies the city’s history in its facade.
In real life
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