to go mountaineering
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to go mountaineering
To climb and hike in the mountains as a sport or hobby, often with the goal of reaching a summit.
Im Sommer fährt er jedes Wochenende in die Alpen, um bergsteigen zu gehen.
In the summer, he goes to the Alps every weekend to go mountaineering.
The word is a clear compound of 'der Berg' (mountain) and the verb 'steigen' (to climb / to ascend). So the meaning is literally 'to climb mountains.'
Bergsteigen ist ein anspruchsvolles Hobby.
Mountaineering is a demanding hobby.
'Bergsteigen' (to go mountaineering) is a separable verb. In a main clause in the present or simple past tense, the prefix 'berg-' comes at the end of the sentence. The past participle is 'berggestiegen'.
Er steigt am liebsten allein in den Bergen berg.
He prefers to go mountaineering alone in the mountains.
Since 'bergsteigen' (to go mountaineering) describes movement, the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be).
Seid ihr schon einmal im Winter berggestiegen?
Have you ever gone mountaineering in winter?
The verb is very often used in the combination 'bergsteigen gehen' (to go mountaineering), similar to 'schwimmen gehen' (to go swimming) or 'wandern gehen' (to go hiking).
Wollen wir am Wochenende bergsteigen gehen?
Do we want to go mountaineering this weekend?
to rise / climb
'steigen' and 'bergsteigen' can both have to do with upward movement. However, 'steigen' is much more general: you can climb stairs, climb onto a chair, or climb a mountain. 'bergsteigen' means a sporting activity in the mountains, often involving hiking, climbing, and reaching a summit as the goal. The words can be confused because 'bergsteigen' contains the word 'steigen'. If it is just about a normal upward movement, 'steigen' fits; if it is about the mountain sport, 'bergsteigen' fits.
Im Sommer geht Lena mit ihrem Bruder in den Alpen bergsteigen.
In summer, Lena goes mountaineering in the Alps with her brother.
Vor dem Haus steigt Max die steile Treppe hinauf.
In front of the house, Max climbs up the steep stairs.