to exploit
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to exploit
To ruthlessly take advantage of people's labor by giving them too much work for too little pay. The term has a strongly negative meaning and implies injustice.
Die Firma wurde beschuldigt, ihre Arbeiter in den Fabriken auszubeuten.
The company was accused of exploiting its workers in the factories.
'Ausbeuten' (to exploit) is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus-' separates from the verb in main clauses and comes at the end of the sentence.
Manche Unternehmen beuten ihre Praktikanten systematisch aus.
Some companies systematically exploit their interns.
The word 'ausbeuten' (to exploit) has a strongly negative connotation in both meanings. It always implies ruthless and unfair exploitation for one's own benefit.
Es ist moralisch falsch, die Notlage anderer Menschen auszubeuten.
It is morally wrong to exploit other people's hardship.
You can recognize the exact meaning from the object of the sentence. If it refers to people, e.g. 'Arbeiter' (workers), it is about labor. If it refers to things, e.g. 'Rohstoffe' (raw materials), it is about natural resources.
Die Kolonialmächte beuteten die besetzten Länder aus.
The colonial powers exploited the occupied countries.
When it is about people, 'ausbeuten' (to exploit) is often used in contexts such as 'Arbeiter ausbeuten' (to exploit workers), 'Mitarbeiter ausbeuten' (to exploit employees), or 'Praktikanten ausbeuten' (to exploit interns).
Die Gewerkschaft kämpft dagegen, dass die Angestellten ausgebeutet werden.
The union is fighting against employees being exploited.
to use
'benutzen' and 'ausbeuten' both have to do with use or making use of something, but they are not equally strong. 'benutzen' can be neutral when you use something for a purpose. With people, it can also mean, negatively, that you are using someone for your own goals. 'ausbeuten' is much stronger and always negative. It is especially appropriate when people have to work under very unfair conditions, or when nature and raw materials are heavily used without regard for the consequences. For normal things, use 'benutzen'; for severe injustice or harmful overexploitation, use 'ausbeuten'.
Die Firma beutet ihre Arbeiter aus und zahlt ihnen viel zu wenig.
The company exploits its workers and pays them far too little.
Sie benutzt beim Lernen oft farbige Karten.
She often uses colored cards when studying.