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befürchten
to fear
To assume or expect that something negative or unpleasant will happen.
example
Ich befürchte, dass der letzte Zug schon abgefahren ist.
I fear that the last train has already left.
befürchten
to fear
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Meanings
Usage tips
Sentence structure
'Befürchten' (to fear) is typically used in two ways: either with an accusative object or with a subordinate clause introduced by 'dass' (that).
EXAMPLE
Die Experten befürchten eine Wirtschaftskrise.
The experts fear an economic crisis.
Word family
The verb 'befürchten' (to fear) is directly related to the noun 'die Furcht' (fear). It describes the action of being afraid of something or expecting something negative.
EXAMPLE
Seine größte Furcht ist, den Job zu verlieren, und er befürchtet, dass es bald so weit ist.
His greatest fear is losing his job, and he fears that it will happen soon.
Register and style
'Befürchten' (to fear) is often used in a slightly formal or polite context to express a negative assumption or bad news.
EXAMPLE
Ich befürchte, Ihr Antrag kann nicht genehmigt werden.
I fear your application cannot be approved.
Compare with
befürchten vs hoffen
to hope
'hoffen' and 'befürchten' are clear opposites. Both words describe an expectation about the future, but the direction is different. With 'hoffen', you expect or wish for something positive. With 'befürchten', you expect something negative or unpleasant. Learners may confuse the words because both are often used with a 'dass' (that) clause. What matters is the evaluation: good and desired is 'hoffen'; bad and unpleasant is 'befürchten'.
befürchten
Am Morgen befürchtet der Koch, dass die Lieferung zu spät kommt.
In the morning, the cook fears that the delivery will arrive too late.
hoffen
Am Montag hoffen wir auf eine gute Nachricht.
On Monday, we are hoping for good news.
In real life
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