to sadden
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to sadden
To make someone sad or distressed. This word is often used in a somewhat more formal or literary context.
Die Nachricht von seinem plötzlichen Tod hat uns alle tief betrübt.
The news of his sudden death deeply saddened us all.
The verb has the inseparable prefix 'be-' and the stem 'trüb', which means 'gloomy' or 'sad'. So 'betrüben' (to sadden) literally means to make someone 'gloomy'.
Sein Schweigen betrübte sie.
His silence saddened her.
The cause of the sadness is the subject, while the person who becomes sad is in the accusative. The past participle 'betrübt' (saddened, distressed) is also often used as an adjective.
Diese Entwicklung betrübt mich sehr.
This development saddens me greatly.
'Betrüben' (to sadden) is a rather formal and elevated word. It is rarely used in everyday colloquial speech.
Es betrübt uns, Ihnen mitteilen zu müssen, dass die Veranstaltung ausfällt.
We are saddened to inform you that the event has been canceled.
to look forward / to be pleased
'freuen' and 'betrüben' can be opposites when something affects a person. Something can 'jemanden freuen', meaning it makes someone happy. Something can 'jemanden betrüben', meaning it makes someone sad or distressed. 'freuen' is very normal in everyday language, especially in sentences like 'Das freut mich' (I'm pleased to hear that / That pleases me). 'betrüben' sounds somewhat more formal or literary than 'traurig machen' (to make sad). The simple contrast is: good news makes someone happy, bad news saddens someone.
Die Absage des Besuchs betrübt die Großeltern.
The cancellation of the visit saddens the grandparents.
Max freut die Nachricht, dass seine Freundin wieder gesund ist.
Max is pleased by the news that his girlfriend is healthy again.