01
das Bein
leg
One of the limbs in humans and many animals that is used for standing and walking.
example
Ich habe mir beim Fußball das linke Bein verletzt.
I injured my left leg while playing soccer.
das Bein
leg
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Sentence structure with injuries
When you injure one of your own body parts, a dative construction is often used. The person is in the dative, and the body part is in the accusative: 'Ich habe mir das Bein gebrochen' (I broke my leg).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich beim Skifahren das Bein verletzt.
He injured his leg while skiing.
Context clue
Whether 'Bein' (leg) means the leg of a living being or of a piece of furniture becomes clear from context. If you are talking about people or animals, it means the body part. If you are talking about tables, chairs, or beds, it means the support.
EXAMPLE
Der Hund hat ein kurzes Bein.
The dog has a short leg.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'sich auf die Beine machen' is reflexive and means 'aufbrechen' (to set off) or 'losgehen' (to get going). It is often used to announce the end of a visit or a break.
EXAMPLE
Es ist schon spät, ich mache mich jetzt auf die Beine.
It's already late; I'm going to get going now.
Fixed expression
The expression 'wieder auf die Beine kommen' means to recover after an illness or a difficult situation. It is used for health problems as well as financial or emotional problems.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Operation hat er einige Wochen gebraucht, um wieder auf die Beine zu kommen.
After the operation, he needed a few weeks to get back on his feet.
Dative construction
The idiom 'jemandem ein Bein stellen' always has a dative object (the person you harm). It can be used literally (to make someone fall) or figuratively (to sabotage someone's plans).
EXAMPLE
Ein Mitspieler hat ihm im Strafraum ein Bein gestellt.
A teammate tripped him in the penalty area.
Compare with
Bein vs Fuß
foot
'der Fuß' and 'das Bein' are both parts of the body and are important for standing and walking. The difference is the size of the body part: the leg goes from the hip down to the foot. The foot is only the lowest part, which you stand on and put into a shoe. Learners may confuse the words because both are used when walking. If you are talking about the knee, thigh, or the whole body part, use 'Bein'. If you are talking about toes, shoes, or the lower part, use 'Fuß'.
Bein
Beim Fußball hat sich Tom am Bein verletzt.
Tom injured his leg while playing soccer.
Fuß
Nach dem langen Spaziergang tut mir der rechte Fuß weh.
After the long walk, my right foot hurts.
In real life
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