to impose / force on
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to force something on someone
To pressure someone into accepting something that he or she does not want. This can be an opinion, an object, or a service.
Der Verkäufer versuchte, mir eine unnötige Zusatzversicherung aufzudrängen.
The salesperson tried to force an unnecessary additional insurance policy on me.
to impose oneself on someone
To force one's own company or presence on someone, even though that person clearly does not want it.
Ich möchte mich Ihnen nicht aufdrängen, aber ich hätte eine kurze Frage.
I don't want to impose myself on you, but I have a quick question.
to suggest itself
Refers to a thought, idea, or suspicion that inevitably makes itself felt in one's consciousness.
Angesichts der Beweise drängte sich der Verdacht auf, dass er nicht die Wahrheit sagte.
In view of the evidence, the suspicion suggested itself that he was not telling the truth.
'Aufdrängen' (to force on / to impose) is a separable verb. The prefix 'auf-' stands at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
Er drängt mir seine Hilfe förmlich auf.
He is practically forcing his help on me.
The person on whom something is forced is always in the dative. This is a fixed structure with this verb.
Der Verkäufer wollte mir (Dativ) einen teuren Vertrag aufdrängen.
The salesperson wanted to force an expensive contract on me (dative).
Typically, opinions, advice, products, or even unwanted help are forced on someone. The object that is being forced on someone is in the accusative.
Bitte dränge mir deine Meinung nicht auf.
Please don't force your opinion on me.
The phrase 'Ich will mich nicht aufdrängen, aber…' (I don't want to impose, but...) is a very common and polite way to start a conversation or bring up a request when you are unsure whether you are interrupting.
Entschuldigung, ich will mich nicht aufdrängen, aber könnten Sie mir kurz helfen?
Excuse me, I don't want to impose, but could you help me for a moment?
This meaning is almost always used with abstract nouns such as 'Gedanke' (thought), 'Frage' (question), 'Verdacht' (suspicion), or 'Vergleich' (comparison). These nouns are then the subject of the sentence.
Die Frage drängt sich auf, warum er das getan hat.
The question suggests itself why he did that.
to persuade
Both words can concern another person making an unwanted decision. überreden emphasizes friendly persuasion, arguments, or requests, whereas aufdrängen highlights the pressure and the other person’s lack of desire. When someone is being pressured into accepting something, aufdrängen is the more appropriate choice.
Die Verkäuferin wollte mir die zusätzliche Versicherung aufdrängen, obwohl ich sie nicht wollte.
The saleswoman wanted to force the additional insurance on me, even though I did not want it.
Mit einigen Argumenten konnte die Verkäuferin mich überreden, das Angebot anzunehmen.
The saleswoman was able to persuade me to accept the offer with a few arguments.
