time to think / thinking time
die Bedenkzeit
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time to think
A period of time that you are given or take for yourself to think about an important decision before making it.
Der Arbeitgeber gab mir eine Woche Bedenkzeit, bevor ich den Vertrag unterschreiben musste.
The employer gave me a week to think before I had to sign the contract.
thinking time
In chess and other board games, the time available to a player for making their moves.
Der Großmeister hatte kaum noch Bedenkzeit auf seiner Uhr.
The grandmaster had hardly any thinking time left on his clock.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| genitive | der Bedenkzeit |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Bedenkzeit | – |
| accusative | die Bedenkzeit | – |
| dative | der Bedenkzeit | – |
| genitive | der Bedenkzeit | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
This word is a clear compound of the verb 'bedenken' (to think something over) and the noun 'die Zeit' (time). So the meaning is literally 'time to think'.
Bitte geben Sie mir etwas Zeit, um das Angebot zu bedenken.
Please give me some time to think over the offer.
Common verbs used with 'Bedenkzeit' (time to think) are 'jemandem Bedenkzeit geben' (to give someone time to think), 'sich Bedenkzeit erbitten' (to ask for time to think), or 'Bedenkzeit brauchen' (to need time to think).
Ich brauche noch etwas Bedenkzeit, bevor ich mich entscheide.
I still need some time to think before I decide.
You can recognize the meaning in the context of games like chess from words such as 'Uhr' (clock), 'Zug' (move), 'Spieler' (player), or 'Partie' (game). Here, 'Bedenkzeit' (thinking time) is the officially allotted time for the moves.
Dem Spieler lief die Bedenkzeit davon und er verlor die Partie.
The player's thinking time was running out, and he lost the game.
