to amount to / to survey
Loading your saved state.
to amount to
To reach a certain sum or amount. Used mainly in connection with costs, debts, or numbers.
Die Kosten für die Reparatur belaufen sich auf über 500 Euro.
The costs for the repair amount to over 500 euros.
'Belaufen' (to amount to / to survey) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'be-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'laufen' in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Die Summe belief sich auf genau 100 Euro.
The sum amounted to exactly 100 euros.
This meaning is always used in the fixed structure 'sich belaufen auf + Betrag (Akkusativ)' (to amount to + amount (accusative)). The verb is reflexive and requires the preposition 'auf'.
Die Rechnung für das Abendessen beläuft sich auf 80 Euro.
The bill for dinner amounts to 80 euros.
The expression 'sich belaufen auf' (to amount to) is formal and is used mainly in written language, in the news, or in business contexts to state exact numbers or sums.
Der Schaden durch den Sturm beläuft sich auf mehrere Millionen Euro.
The damage caused by the storm amounts to several million euros.
The meaning 'ein Gebiet abgehen' (to walk over/survey an area) is archaic and is hardly used in modern German. It is found almost only in old texts or historical descriptions.
In dem alten Roman belief der Wächter jede Nacht die Stadtmauern.
In the old novel, the guard surveyed the city walls every night.
to reach
'erreichen' and 'sich belaufen auf' can both be used with numbers or amounts. 'erreichen' is much more general: you can reach a goal, a place, a person, or also a certain level. 'sich belaufen auf', on the other hand, is used almost only for sums, costs, debts, or other exact amounts. It sounds more factual and somewhat more formal. If you are simply saying that a value reaches a certain limit, 'erreichen' fits. If you are naming the total amount, 'sich belaufen auf' is very precise.
Die Gesamtkosten belaufen sich nach der Prüfung auf 780 Euro.
After the inspection, the total costs amount to 780 euros.
Die Kosten für die Reparatur erreichen fast 800 Euro.
The repair costs reach almost 800 euros.