to please / to wish
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as desired
A fixed expression meaning that you can do something the way you want or think is right; at your own discretion.
Sie können die Soße nach Belieben mit Kräutern verfeinern.
You can refine the sauce with herbs as desired.
to wish
An outdated, very formal way of asking what someone would like. Today it is used only rarely and often ironically.
Der Oberkellner fragte mit einer leichten Verbeugung: „Was beliebt die Dame zu trinken?“
The head waiter asked with a slight bow: “What would the lady wish to drink?”
The verb 'belieben' (to please/to wish) is hardly ever conjugated on its own today. It survives almost exclusively in fixed expressions like 'nach Belieben' (as desired) or in the question 'Was beliebt?' (What would you like?), which has a very formal or old-fashioned character.
Fügen Sie Salz und Pfeffer nach Belieben hinzu.
Add salt and pepper as desired.
The verb 'belieben' (to please/to wish) is related to the adjective 'beliebt' (popular). The shared root is the idea of something that pleases, is liked, or is pleasant.
Dieses Lied ist bei jungen Leuten sehr beliebt.
This song is very popular among young people.
The expression 'nach Belieben' (as desired) means 'wie man möchte' (as one likes) or 'nach eigenem Geschmack' (according to one's own taste). It is very frequently used in instructions, especially in recipes.
Du kannst die Zutaten für den Salat nach Belieben variieren.
You can vary the ingredients for the salad as desired.
The question 'Was beliebt?' (What would you like?) or 'Was beliebt Ihnen?' (What would you like?) is very outdated and formal. Nowadays you would hear it only in a historical film or when someone deliberately wants to sound ironic or exaggeratedly polite.
„Was beliebt der Herr zu speisen?“, fragte der Kellner im Scherz.
“What would the gentleman wish to eat?” the waiter asked jokingly.
to wish
Wünschen and belieben can occur in a formal question about a person's wishes. In modern German, „wünschen“ is the normal polite form, while „belieben“ sounds outdated, very formal, or ironic. In ordinary conversation, „wünschen“ is appropriate; „belieben“ usually sounds deliberately old-fashioned.
Was belieben Sie als Beilage zu Ihrem Essen zu wählen?
What would you like to choose as a side dish with your meal?
Was wünschen Sie als Beilage zu Ihrem Essen?
What would you like as a side dish with your meal?
