01
der Bestandteil
component / part
A part from which something larger is made up; a component or element of a whole.
example
Mehl ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil von Brot.
Flour is an essential component of bread.
der Bestandteil
component / part
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Meanings
Usage tips
Compound structure
The word is made up of 'Bestand' (existence/stock) and 'Teil' (part). 'Bestand' is derived from the verb 'bestehen' (to consist/exist). A Bestandteil is therefore literally a part that something consists of.
EXAMPLE
Wasserstoff ist ein Bestandteil von Wasser.
Hydrogen is a component of water.
Sentence structure with 'von'
To name the whole to which the part belongs, the preposition 'von' with the dative is almost always used. The structure is: 'etwas ist ein Bestandteil von etwas' (something is a component of something).
EXAMPLE
Vitamine sind ein wichtiger Bestandteil einer gesunden Ernährung.
Vitamins are an important component of a healthy diet.
Typical adjectives
'Bestandteil' (component/part) is very often combined with adjectives that emphasize its importance. Typical collocations are 'wesentlicher Bestandteil' (essential component), 'wichtiger Bestandteil' (important component), and 'fester Bestandteil' (fixed/integral part).
EXAMPLE
Teamarbeit ist ein fester Bestandteil unserer Unternehmenskultur.
Teamwork is an integral part of our corporate culture.
Compare with
Bestandteil vs Teil
part
'der Teil' and 'der Bestandteil' both refer to something that belongs to a larger whole. 'Teil' is very general and works for pieces, areas, or components. 'Bestandteil' emphasizes more strongly that something is a fixed part of something or that the whole is made up of it. That is why 'Bestandteil' often sounds more precise when talking about ingredients, materials, systems, or important points. The words can be confused because every 'Bestandteil' is a 'Teil'. But 'Teil' can also be just a loose piece; 'Bestandteil' sounds more closely connected to the whole.
Bestandteil
Wasser ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil vieler Lebensmittel.
Water is an important component of many foods.
Teil
Der obere Teil des Regals ist beim Umzug kaputtgegangen.
The upper part of the shelf broke during the move.
In real life
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