betreuen
to look after
To take care of someone, provide for them, and be responsible for them, e.g. children, sick people, or elderly people.
EXAMPLE
Die Tagesmutter betreut fünf kleine Kinder.
The childminder looks after five small children.
betreuen
to look after / supervise
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Meanings
betreuen
to manage / handle
To be responsible for and manage a project, client, or area of responsibility.
EXAMPLE
Welcher Kollege betreut den neuen Kunden aus Frankreich?
Which colleague handles the new client from France?
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Betreuen' (to look after / supervise) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'be-' is never separated from the verb stem, and the past participle is formed without 'ge-': 'betreut'.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat das Projekt von Anfang an betreut.
She has managed the project from the very beginning.
Always with accusative
The verb 'betreuen' (to look after / manage) always needs a direct object in the accusative. You always look after 'someone' or manage 'something'.
EXAMPLE
Er betreut seine kranke Mutter.
He looks after his sick mother.
Context clues
The object reveals the exact meaning. If the object is a person (e.g. a child, a patient), 'betreuen' means 'to take care of.' If the object is a thing (e.g. a project, a client), it means 'to be responsible for' or 'to manage.'
EXAMPLE
Die Ärztin betreut die Patienten auf der Station.
The doctor looks after the patients on the ward.
Typical collocations
In the sense of 'to take care of,' 'betreuen' is often combined with people who need help or supervision. Typical phrases are: 'Kinder betreuen' (to look after children), 'Senioren betreuen' (to care for seniors), or 'Patienten betreuen' (to care for patients).
EXAMPLE
In den Ferien betreut sie die Nachbarskinder.
During the holidays, she looks after the neighborhood children.
Typical collocations
In a professional context, 'betreuen' means 'to be responsible for.' Typical objects are: 'ein Projekt betreuen' (to manage a project), 'einen Kunden betreuen' (to handle a client), 'eine Abteilung betreuen' (to manage a department), or also 'eine wissenschaftliche Arbeit betreuen' (to supervise an academic thesis).
EXAMPLE
Der Professor betreut meine Masterarbeit.
The professor is supervising my master's thesis.
Compare with
betreuen vs sorgen
to take care / worry
Sorgen für and betreuen can both mean taking care of a person. Sorgen für tends to emphasize responsibility for provision and well-being, while betreuen highlights direct, often regular support and supervision. Use sorgen für for general responsibility and betreuen for concrete support.
betreuen
Eine Pflegekraft betreut die kranke Tochter jeden Morgen im Krankenhaus.
A nurse looks after the sick daughter at the hospital every morning.
sorgen
Die Eltern sorgen für ihre kranke Tochter und kümmern sich um ihre Versorgung.
The parents take care of their sick daughter and make sure she receives the care she needs.
In real life
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