die Bemühung
effort
An exertion or serious attempt to achieve a goal or complete a task.
EXAMPLE
Trotz grosser Bemühungen konnte die Mannschaft das Spiel nicht gewinnen.
Despite great efforts, the team could not win the game.
die Bemühung
effort
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Meanings
die Bemühung
efforts
The trouble or effort someone goes to for another person. Often used in the plural and in polite expressions of thanks.
EXAMPLE
Vielen Dank für Ihre Bemühungen, eine Lösung zu finden.
Thank you very much for your efforts to find a solution.
Usage tips
Word family
'Die Bemühung' (effort) is the noun related to the reflexive verb 'sich bemühen' (to make an effort). If you make an effort to do something, the result is your 'Bemühung' (effort).
EXAMPLE
Er bemüht sich, sein Deutsch zu verbessern.
He is making an effort to improve his German.
Sentence structure with infinitive
To describe what the effort refers to, an infinitive construction with 'zu' often follows. The structure is: 'die Bemühung, etwas zu tun' (the effort to do something).
EXAMPLE
Ihre Bemühung, einen Kompromiss zu finden, war deutlich zu sehen.
Her effort to find a compromise was clearly visible.
Typical collocations
Common fixed phrases are 'trotz aller Bemühungen' (despite all efforts), when something did not work out, or 'vergebliche Bemühungen' (futile efforts), which means 'pointless efforts.'
EXAMPLE
Trotz aller Bemühungen konnten sie das Feuer nicht unter Kontrolle bringen.
Despite all efforts, they could not bring the fire under control.
Polite usage
The plural form 'Ihre Bemühungen' (your efforts) is a very polite and formal way to thank someone for their help or commitment. You often find it in business letters or emails.
EXAMPLE
Sehr geehrte Frau Meier, vielen Dank für Ihre Bemühungen in dieser Angelegenheit.
Dear Ms. Meier, thank you very much for your efforts in this matter.
Compare with
Bemühung vs Versuch
attempt / experiment
Versuch and Bemühung can both refer to a serious attempt to achieve a goal. Versuch tends to emphasize the specific action or approach someone tries, while Bemühung highlights the effort and exertion involved. Use Versuch for the attempt and Bemühung for the effort it requires.
Bemühung
Ihre Bemühung, den kaputten Drucker selbst zu reparieren, kostete sie den ganzen Nachmittag.
Her effort to repair the broken printer herself took the entire afternoon.
Versuch
Ihr Versuch, den kaputten Drucker selbst zu reparieren, blieb erfolglos.
Her attempt to repair the broken printer herself was unsuccessful.
In real life
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