01
der Betrieb
business / company
A business, company, or production facility where people work.
example
Der Betrieb hat über 500 Mitarbeiter und exportiert in die ganze Welt.
The company has over 500 employees and exports all over the world.
der Betrieb
business / operation
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'der Betrieb' (business / operation) is closely related to the verb 'betreiben' (to operate / to run), which means 'to keep something running' or 'to manage'. This idea of active operation appears in all meanings, from running a company to a machine operating.
EXAMPLE
Er betreibt ein kleines Café in der Innenstadt.
He runs a small café in the city center.
Typical collocations
Fixed expressions are used to describe the start or end of a facility's operation. You say 'etwas in Betrieb nehmen' (to put something into operation) or 'den Betrieb einstellen' (to cease operations).
EXAMPLE
Die neue Maschine wird morgen in Betrieb genommen.
The new machine will be put into operation tomorrow.
Register
In the meaning 'viel los' (a lot going on) or 'Trubel' (hustle and bustle), 'Betrieb' (activity / bustle) is colloquial. It is used to describe a lively, sometimes chaotic atmosphere.
EXAMPLE
Am ersten Tag des Schlussverkaufs war in der Stadt ein riesiger Betrieb.
On the first day of the sale, there was a huge amount of activity in the city.
Fixed expression
The expression 'außer Betrieb' (out of order) is always used with the verb 'sein' (to be). It describes that a machine or service is temporarily not working.
EXAMPLE
Die Rolltreppe zum Bahnsteig ist schon wieder außer Betrieb.
The escalator to the platform is out of order again.
Compare with
Betrieb vs Unternehmen
company / undertaking
'das Unternehmen' and 'der Betrieb' can both mean an economic unit where people work. 'Unternehmen' tends to emphasize the organization as a whole, for example its goals, management, or economic role. 'Betrieb' often sounds more concrete: you think more of the workplace, production, or day-to-day operations. Learners may confuse the words because both can refer to a company. Be careful: 'Betrieb' can also mean that a machine or system is running, for example 'in Betrieb' (in operation). In that case, it has nothing to do with a company as a business.
Betrieb
In diesem Betrieb arbeiten viele Menschen in der Produktion.
Many people work in production at this company.
Unternehmen
Das Unternehmen verkauft seine Produkte inzwischen in mehreren Ländern.
The company now sells its products in several countries.
In real life
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