confession
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confession
In the Catholic and Orthodox Church, the sacrament in which a believer confesses their sins to a priest in order to obtain forgiveness.
Der Priester nahm den Gläubigen die Beichte ab.
The priest heard the believers' confessions.
confession
Used figuratively for an open admission of mistakes or wrongdoing, also outside a religious context.
Nach langem Zögern legte der Politiker eine öffentliche Beichte über seine Fehler ab.
After long hesitation, the politician made a public confession about his mistakes.
'Die Beichte' (confession) is the noun corresponding to the verb 'beichten' (to confess). When someone confesses, they 'legt eine Beichte ab' (make a confession).
Er wollte seine Fehler beichten.
He wanted to confess his mistakes.
You can recognize the religious meaning from words such as 'Kirche' (church), 'Priester' (priest), or 'Sünden' (sins). The figurative meaning refers to everyday or public admissions of mistakes.
Er ging in die Kirche, um die Beichte abzulegen.
He went to church to make his confession.
In the religious context, there are fixed verb combinations: a person 'legt die Beichte ab' (makes a confession) or 'geht zur Beichte' (goes to confession). The priest 'nimmt die Beichte ab' (hears the confession).
Viele Gläubige gehen vor Ostern zur Beichte.
Many believers go to confession before Easter.
In the figurative meaning too, the fixed expression 'eine Beichte ablegen' (to make a confession) is usually used. This emphasizes the serious or official character of an admission.
Der Angeklagte legte vor Gericht eine umfassende Beichte ab.
The defendant made a comprehensive confession in court.
confession
Both words refer to admitting one's own guilt or a bad deed. A Geständnis usually refers to a specific act in general terms or in the context of an investigation. A Beichte takes place religiously before a priest and serves there as a confession and for obtaining forgiveness.
Vor Ostern ging sie zur Beichte und bekannte dem Priester ihre Sünden.
Before Easter, she went to confession and confessed her sins to the priest.
Nach langen Gesprächen legte der Verdächtige bei der Polizei ein Geständnis ab.
After lengthy discussions, the suspect confessed to the police.
