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.
'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 force
'zwingen' and 'aufdrängen' both have to do with someone not respecting another person's will. 'zwingen' is stronger: someone has to do something even though they do not want to. 'aufdrängen' means more that someone strongly offers or suggests something unwanted to a person, for example an opinion, a product, or their own company. There does not always have to be real force or authority involved. Learners may confuse the words because both describe unpleasant pressure. If someone no longer has a choice, 'zwingen' fits; if someone offers something too pushily or puts themselves in the foreground, 'aufdrängen' fits.
Nach dem Essen drängt mir meine Tante immer noch ein zweites Stück Kuchen auf.
After dinner, my aunt always pushes a second piece of cake on me.
Der Arzt kann den Patienten nicht zu einer Behandlung zwingen.
The doctor cannot force the patient to undergo treatment.