to resolve / clean up / adjust
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to resolve
To clarify and put right an unclear, conflict-ridden, or problematic situation. It means clearing up misunderstandings or settling disputes.
Die beiden Parteien trafen sich, um ihre Differenzen zu bereinigen.
The two parties met to resolve their differences.
to clean up
To clean data, a text, or a list of errors, unnecessary elements, or inconsistencies. The goal is to obtain a clean and correct version.
Ich muss die Adressliste noch um alle doppelten Einträge bereinigen.
I still need to clean up the address list by removing all duplicate entries.
to adjust
In an economic or statistical context, it means removing special effects or distorting factors from figures or data in order to make them more comparable.
Der um saisonale Schwankungen bereinigte Gewinn ist leicht gestiegen.
Profit adjusted for seasonal fluctuations has increased slightly.
'Bereinigen' is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'be-' always stays attached to the stem 'reinigen' (to clean). It often gives the verb a more abstract meaning of clarifying or putting something in order.
Wir müssen die Missverständnisse schnellstmöglich bereinigen.
We need to resolve the misunderstandings as quickly as possible.
When you want to state which elements are removed, use the preposition 'um' followed by the accusative. The structure is: something (acc.) + 'um' + something (acc.) + 'bereinigen'.
Bitte bereinige die Liste um die veralteten Kontakte.
Please clean up the list by removing the outdated contacts.
In this meaning, 'bereinigen' (to resolve) is often used with nouns that describe social or business problems. Typical examples are: 'einen Konflikt bereinigen' (to resolve a conflict), 'Differenzen bereinigen' (to resolve differences), or 'eine Situation bereinigen' (to resolve a situation).
Ein Mediator half den Geschäftspartnern, ihren Streit zu bereinigen.
A mediator helped the business partners resolve their dispute.
This meaning refers to correcting digital or written information. It is often used in connection with 'eine Liste bereinigen' (to clean up a list), 'Daten bereinigen' (to clean data), or 'ein Dokument bereinigen' (to clean up a document).
Bevor wir die Briefe verschicken, muss jemand die Adressdatenbank bereinigen.
Before we send the letters, someone needs to clean up the address database.
This meaning is typical of business and financial language. It is used to make statistical data comparable. For example, people speak of 'bereinigter Gewinn' (adjusted profit) or 'saisonbereinigte Zahlen' (seasonally adjusted figures).
Der um Währungseffekte bereinigte Umsatz ist im letzten Quartal gestiegen.
Revenue adjusted for currency effects increased in the last quarter.
to solve / loosen
Lösen is the more general word when you want to bring a task or problem to a result. Bereinigen is especially appropriate when an unclear or conflict-ridden situation is put in order and a dispute is cleared up. For an ordinary problem, people usually say lösen; for a dispute, bereinigen is more appropriate.
Die beiden Kollegen wollen ihren Streit noch heute bereinigen.
The two colleagues want to settle their dispute today.
Das Team muss das technische Problem noch heute lösen.
The team still has to solve the technical problem today.
