to make do
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to make do with
To be satisfied with something, even though one might have wished for more or more might have been possible; to give up further demands.
Für den Anfang müssen wir uns mit einem kleinen Büro begnügen.
For a start, we'll have to make do with a small office.
This verb is reflexive and is almost always used with the preposition 'mit' (with) and the dative. The structure is: Jemand begnügt sich mit etwas. (Someone makes do with something.)
Er begnügt sich mit einem einfachen Abendessen.
He makes do with a simple dinner.
The word 'begnügen' (to make do) contains the word 'genug' (enough). It expresses that you perceive something as sufficient or enough and are therefore satisfied with it, even if more would be possible.
Da es keinen Kuchen mehr gab, begnügte er sich mit einem Keks.
Since there was no cake left, he made do with a cookie.
'Sich begnügen' (to make do) is often expanded with 'damit' and an infinitive construction with 'zu'. This expresses which action is perceived as sufficient.
Sie musste sich damit begnügen, das Rennen im Fernsehen zu sehen.
She had to make do with watching the race on television.
to give up / to do without
'verzichten' and 'sich begnügen mit' both have to do with not taking or getting everything that would be possible. With 'verzichten auf', the focus is on the decision: you voluntarily do not do or take something. With 'sich begnügen mit', the focus is more on being satisfied with less. You may have wanted more, but you accept what is there. Learners may confuse the words because in both cases less is chosen or accepted. In practice: you 'verzichtet auf etwas' (give something up / do without something), but you 'begnügt sich mit etwas' (make do with something).
Im Urlaub begnügt er sich mit einem kleinen Zimmer, weil es nah am Strand liegt.
On vacation, he makes do with a small room because it is close to the beach.
Heute verzichte ich auf das Auto und fahre mit dem Bus zur Arbeit.
Today I am doing without the car and taking the bus to work.