to improve
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to improve
To get better; to develop in a positive direction. Often refers to someone's health, the weather, or a person's behavior.
Sein Gesundheitszustand hat sich nach der Operation schnell gebessert.
His health improved quickly after the operation.
to correct / improve
To improve or correct something. This transitive use is rare today and is usually replaced by 'verbessern' (to improve).
Er versuchte, seine Fehler zu bessern, aber es gelang ihm nur langsam.
He tried to correct his mistakes, but he only managed it slowly.
The verb 'bessern' (to improve) is derived directly from 'besser' (better), the comparative form of 'gut' (good). So it describes the process of becoming better.
Ich hoffe, das Wetter bessert sich bald.
I hope the weather improves soon.
In its most common meaning, 'bessern' is used reflexively: 'sich bessern' (to improve/get better). The subject of the sentence is the thing or person that is getting better. The reflexive pronoun is obligatory in this use.
Die wirtschaftliche Lage des Landes hat sich im letzten Quartal gebessert.
The country's economic situation improved in the last quarter.
'Sich bessern' (to improve/get better) is often used in relation to impersonal states such as the weather, a situation, or health. Typical subjects are 'das Wetter' (the weather), 'die Lage' (the situation), or 'der Gesundheitszustand' (the state of health).
Die Stimmung im Team hat sich nach dem Gespräch deutlich gebessert.
The mood in the team improved significantly after the conversation.
The use of 'bessern' with an accusative object ('etwas bessern' — to correct/improve something) is very rare today and sounds outdated or very formal. Usually the verb 'verbessern' (to improve) is used instead.
Der Autor besserte einige Stellen in seinem Manuskript.
The author corrected a few passages in his manuscript.
to improve
For a positive change, for example in someone's health, both sich verbessern and sich bessern are possible. Sich bessern is particularly common in such fixed expressions, while sich verbessern sounds more general and can also refer to development or skills. With health, the weather, or behavior, sich bessern is often appropriate; otherwise, sich verbessern is usually the broader choice.
Nach der Behandlung bessert sich der Gesundheitszustand des Patienten langsam.
The patient's health is gradually improving after treatment.
Nach dem Training verbessert sich meine Kondition langsam.
My fitness is gradually improving after training.
