to book out / write off
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to book out
To remove a reservation or booking (e.g., for a hotel room or a flight) from a system or mark it as occupied so that it is no longer available.
Der Kunde hat seine Reservierung storniert, also müssen wir das Zimmer wieder ausbuchen.
The customer canceled his reservation, so we have to book the room out again.
to write off
In accounting, to remove an item or amount from an account, for example a receivable that can no longer be collected.
Die uneinbringliche Forderung musste aus den Geschäftsbüchern ausgebucht werden.
The uncollectible receivable had to be written off from the business records.
'Ausbuchen' (to book out/write off) is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus-' is placed at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses or the infinitive, the verb stays together.
Der Mitarbeiter bucht die Rechnung aus dem System aus.
The employee writes the invoice out of the system.
The verb is made up of 'aus' (out) and 'buchen' (to book). 'Buchen' means to enter something into a system (e.g., a trip or an amount of money). The prefix 'aus-' reverses this process and means removing something from the system.
Können Sie diese Buchung bitte wieder ausbuchen? Ich habe mich geirrt.
Could you please book this booking back out? I made a mistake.
In this meaning, 'ausbuchen' (to book out) is used in tourism, the hotel industry, and events. The object is typically a reservation, e.g., 'ein Zimmer' (a room), 'ein Ticket' (a ticket), or 'ein Platz' (a seat/place).
Das Hotel war komplett ausgebucht, wir konnten kein Zimmer mehr bekommen.
The hotel was completely booked out; we couldn't get another room.
This meaning belongs to the technical language of accounting. Here, 'ausbuchen' (to write off) means removing a financial item from the books because, for example, it has been paid or is worthless.
Der Verlust musste als außerordentlicher Aufwand ausgebucht werden.
The loss had to be written off as an extraordinary expense.
to copy / write off
When a receivable cannot be collected, both verbs can express the loss of an amount, but they focus on different things. „Abschreiben“ means reducing the value of the receivable in the accounts, while „ausbuchen“ means removing the item from the account. Use each one for the corresponding accounting step.
Nach dem erfolglosen Mahnverfahren buchte die Firma die Forderung aus.
After the unsuccessful collection process, the company wrote off the receivable.
Nach dem erfolglosen Mahnverfahren schrieb die Firma den Wert der Forderung ab.
After the unsuccessful collection process, the company wrote down the value of the receivable.
