01
beilegen
to enclose
To add something to something else, especially to a letter or shipment.
example
Bitte legen Sie Ihrem Antrag eine Kopie Ihres Personalausweises bei.
Please enclose a copy of your ID card with your application.
beilegen
to enclose / settle / heave to
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Beilegen' (to enclose/settle/heave to) is a separable verb. The prefix 'bei-' comes at the end in a main clause; in subordinate clauses and in the infinitive, it stays attached to the verb. In the infinitive form with 'zu', 'zu' comes between the prefix and the verb.
EXAMPLE
Er legt dem Paket eine persönliche Notiz bei.
He encloses a personal note with the package.
Sentence structure with dative
When you enclose something with a document or shipment, that shipment is often in the dative. The enclosed object itself is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Dem Brief war ein Foto beigelegt.
A photo was enclosed with the letter.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'schlichten' (to settle/mediate), 'beilegen' is almost always used with abstract nouns for conflicts. Typical combinations are: 'einen Streit beilegen' (to settle a dispute), 'einen Konflikt beilegen' (to settle a conflict), or 'eine Krise beilegen' (to settle a crisis).
EXAMPLE
Die Parteien versuchten, ihre Differenzen beizulegen.
The parties tried to settle their differences.
Context: seafaring
This meaning of 'beilegen' (to heave to) is technical language from seafaring. You can recognize it from words like 'Schiff' (ship), 'Kapitän' (captain), 'Segel' (sail), or 'Sturm' (storm) in the context.
EXAMPLE
Bei hohem Wellengang musste das Segelboot beilegen.
In heavy seas, the sailboat had to heave to.
Compare with
beilegen vs lösen
to solve / loosen
'lösen' and 'beilegen' can both mean that a difficult matter is brought to an end. However, 'lösen' is much more general: you can solve a problem, a task, or a puzzle. 'beilegen' is used especially for a dispute, conflict, or disagreement. It means that the people involved calm down or resolve the conflict. Learners may confuse the words because a dispute is also a problem. More precisely, though: you solve a problem, but you settle a dispute.
beilegen
Nach dem Gespräch konnten die Nachbarn ihren Streit endlich beilegen.
After the conversation, the neighbors were finally able to settle their dispute.
lösen
Im Zug lösen wir noch schnell die letzte Aufgabe für den Kurs.
On the train, we quickly solve the last task for the course.
In real life
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