to perform at / to supply content / to record
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to perform at
To regularly give performances or concerts at a particular place, such as a stage or theater.
Das neue Ensemble bespielt das Stadttheater in dieser Saison mit drei modernen Stücken.
The new ensemble is performing at the city theater this season with three modern plays.
to supply content to
In marketing and media: to deliberately supply specific channels, such as social media, or target groups with content.
Unsere Agentur bespielt für den Kunden alle relevanten Social-Media-Kanäle mit passendem Content.
Our agency supplies all relevant social media channels with suitable content for the client.
to record on
To record audio, video, or data onto an audio carrier or data storage medium, such as a cassette, CD, or hard drive.
Früher habe ich oft Kassetten mit meinen Lieblingsliedern aus dem Radio bespielt.
In the past, I often recorded my favorite songs from the radio onto cassettes.
to use
In sports or games: to actively use a particular area or section for play.
Der Trainer forderte die Mannschaft auf, das gesamte Spielfeld zu bespielen und nicht nur eine Seite.
The coach urged the team to use the entire playing field and not just one side.
'Bespielen' is an inseparable verb because it begins with 'be-'. The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb in all tenses and sentence types. The past participle is 'bespielt'.
Die Band hat gestern Abend die große Konzerthalle bespielt.
The band performed at the large concert hall yesterday evening.
The prefix 'be-' turns 'spielen' (to play) into an action that directly affects an object. You are not just playing; you are supplying something with a performance or content: a stage with a play, a channel with content, or a cassette with music.
Die Agentur bespielt den Instagram-Account des Kunden mit täglichen Posts.
The agency supplies the client's Instagram account with daily posts.
The exact meaning of 'bespielen' can be recognized from the object of the sentence. A 'Theater' (theater) points to a performance, a 'Social-Media-Kanal' (social media channel) to marketing, and a 'Festplatte' (hard drive) to storing data.
Dieses Theater wird von einer sehr bekannten Gruppe bespielt.
This theater is performed at by a very well-known group.
The meaning 'mit Inhalten versorgen' (to supply with content) is typical of modern marketing and media language. People talk about supplying channels, platforms, or target groups with content.
Welche Zielgruppen wollen wir mit unserer neuen Kampagne bespielen?
Which target groups do we want to supply with content through our new campaign?
to record / take in
Aufnehmen refers to technically recording sound or images. Bespielen, by contrast, emphasizes putting already created or just-recorded content onto a particular audio or data carrier. The key difference is therefore whether the process or the carrier is the focus.
Wir bespielen die Festplatte anschließend mit der Aufnahme des Konzerts.
We then put the concert recording onto the hard drive.
Wir nehmen das Konzert mit einem digitalen Gerät auf.
We record the concert with a digital device.
