to exploit / make the most of
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to exploit
To use someone or a situation in an unfair or selfish way for one's own advantage; to instrumentalize someone or take advantage of them.
Er hat ihre Gutmütigkeit schamlos ausgenutzt, um sich Geld zu leihen.
He shamelessly exploited her good nature in order to borrow money.
'Ausnutzen' (to exploit / make the most of) is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Er nutzt seine Machtposition aus.
He exploits his position of power.
The meaning depends strongly on the object. If the object is a person or one of their qualities (e.g., trust, good nature), the meaning is negative (exploit). If the object is a resource or opportunity (e.g., time, weather, chance), the meaning is neutral or positive (make the most of).
Sie hat seine Hilfsbereitschaft ausgenutzt.
She exploited his willingness to help.
For the negative meaning, the verb is often combined with people or their qualities: 'jemanden ausnutzen' (to exploit someone), 'die Gutmütigkeit ausnutzen' (to exploit someone's good nature), 'das Vertrauen ausnutzen' (to exploit someone's trust), or 'eine Notlage ausnutzen' (to exploit an emergency situation).
Lass dich von ihm nicht ausnutzen!
Don't let him exploit you!
For the neutral or positive meaning, the verb is often combined with time, resources, or opportunities: 'die Zeit ausnutzen' (to make the most of the time), 'das gute Wetter ausnutzen' (to make the most of the good weather), 'eine Chance ausnutzen' (to take advantage of an opportunity), or 'den Platz ausnutzen' (to make use of the space).
Lasst uns die Gelegenheit ausnutzen und den Experten ein paar Fragen stellen.
Let's take advantage of the opportunity and ask the expert a few questions.
to use / benefit
'nutzen' and 'ausnutzen' both have to do with use and advantage. 'nutzen' is neutral: you use something for a purpose. 'ausnutzen' can be neutral or positive when you use an opportunity, time, or a resource fully. But it can also be negative when someone uses a person or situation unfairly for their own advantage. That is why 'ausnutzen' is stronger and sometimes needs to be used carefully. Learners easily confuse the words, but 'nutzen' is the neutral form; 'ausnutzen' emphasizes either 'as well as possible' or 'unfairly'.
Am Wochenende nutzt Nina das gute Wetter aus und streicht den Gartenzaun.
At the weekend, Nina makes the most of the good weather and paints the garden fence.
Vor dem Termin nutzt der Fahrer die Wartezeit, um die Unterlagen zu lesen.
Before the appointment, the driver uses the waiting time to read the documents.