jemandem etwas beibringen
to teach someone something
To teach someone a skill or knowledge, often in a practical way.
EXAMPLE
Meine Mutter hat mir das Backen beigebracht.
My mother taught me how to bake.
beibringen
to teach / inflict / produce
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Meanings
jemandem etwas beibringen
to inflict something on someone
To cause someone something unpleasant, especially an injury or a defeat.
EXAMPLE
Im Finale hat uns die gegnerische Mannschaft eine empfindliche Niederlage beigebracht.
In the final, the opposing team inflicted a painful defeat on us.
etwas beibringen
to produce something
To obtain and present something required, such as a document or piece of evidence.
EXAMPLE
Der Zeuge konnte wichtige Unterlagen als Beweismittel beibringen.
The witness was able to produce important documents as evidence.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Beibringen' (to teach/inflict/produce) is a separable verb. The prefix 'bei-' goes at the end in a main clause. In a subordinate clause, the verb stays together, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' stands in the middle: 'beizubringen'.
EXAMPLE
Mein Opa bringt mir das Schachspielen bei.
My grandpa teaches me how to play chess.
Dative construction
This verb almost always needs a person in the dative and a thing in the accusative. The structure is: someone (subject) teaches someone (dative) something (accusative).
EXAMPLE
Der Trainer bringt den Kindern (Dativ) neue Techniken (Akkusativ) bei.
The coach teaches the children (dative) new techniques (accusative).
Context clue
The accusative object reveals the meaning. If it is a skill (e.g. 'das Schwimmen' — swimming), it means 'to teach.' If it is something negative (e.g. 'eine Niederlage' — a defeat), it means 'to inflict.' If it is documents (e.g. 'Beweise' — evidence), it means 'to produce/present.'
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich selbst das Gitarrespielen beigebracht.
She taught herself how to play guitar.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'to inflict,' 'beibringen' is often used with negative things in sports or conflict, for example 'jemandem eine Niederlage beibringen' (to inflict a defeat on someone), 'Verletzungen beibringen' (to inflict injuries), or 'Wunden beibringen' (to inflict wounds).
EXAMPLE
Die Gastmannschaft hat uns eine klare Niederlage beigebracht.
The visiting team inflicted a clear defeat on us.
Register
The meaning 'to obtain and present' is formal and is mainly used in administrative or legal language. Typical objects are 'Beweise' (evidence), 'Unterlagen' (documents), or 'ein Attest' (a medical certificate).
EXAMPLE
Der Angeklagte konnte keine Beweise für seine Unschuld beibringen.
The defendant could not produce any evidence of his innocence.
Compare with
beibringen vs vermitteln
to mediate / arrange / convey
Vermitteln describes passing on knowledge or skills in an understandable way and can also refer to the general content of a course. Beibringen typically targets a specific learner, often with practical skills, and more strongly suggests that they eventually master what they have learned.
beibringen
Nach mehreren Übungen hat die Trainerin den Kindern das Rückenschwimmen beigebracht.
After several exercises, the coach taught the children how to swim on their backs.
vermitteln
Der Schwimmkurs vermittelt den Kindern die wichtigsten Techniken.
The swimming course teaches the children the most important techniques.
In real life
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