to quantify / number
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to quantify
To state or estimate a value, sum, or number in figures. Often used in connection with costs, damages, or quantities.
Die Experten beziffern den durch das Hochwasser entstandenen Schaden auf über eine Milliarde Euro.
The experts quantify the damage caused by the flood at over one billion euros.
The verb 'beziffern' (to quantify/number) is derived from the noun 'die Ziffer' (digit/number). The prefix 'be-' indicates that an action is applied to something — here, something is provided with a number.
Es ist schwer, den emotionalen Wert dieses alten Fotos zu beziffern.
It is hard to quantify the emotional value of this old photo.
In its most common meaning, 'beziffern' (to quantify) is almost always used with the preposition 'auf' followed by an accusative (the amount of money or number). The structure is: 'etwas auf [Zahl] beziffern' (to quantify something at [number/amount]).
Die Polizei beziffert die Zahl der Demonstranten auf rund 10.000.
The police quantify the number of demonstrators at around 10,000.
This verb is often used to express negative or hard-to-measure things in numbers. Typical objects are 'den Schaden' (the damage), 'die Kosten' (the costs), 'den Verlust' (the loss), or 'die Anzahl' (the number).
Das Unternehmen konnte den genauen Verlust noch nicht beziffern.
The company was not yet able to quantify the exact loss.
'Beziffern' (to quantify) is a formal word typically found in news reports, official reports, or business language. It is rarely used in normal everyday speech.
In dem Bericht wird der wirtschaftliche Schaden auf mehrere Millionen beziffert.
In the report, the economic damage is quantified at several million.
The meaning 'etwas mit Nummern versehen' (to mark something with numbers) is very rare today and is found almost only in specialized contexts such as archives or libraries when numbering documents or pages.
Der Historiker musste jede Seite des Manuskripts einzeln beziffern.
The historian had to number each page of the manuscript individually.
to state / boast / report
'angeben' and 'beziffern' can both mean that you state a number. 'angeben' is much more general: you can state numbers, names, reasons, or other information. 'beziffern' is used only when a value, sum, or number is stated or estimated in figures. It sounds somewhat more formal and often fits costs, damages, or quantities. Learners may confuse the words because both are possible with numbers. If it is not explicitly about a number or sum, 'angeben' is the better choice.
Die Polizei bezifferte den Schaden nach dem Unfall auf 5.000 Euro.
The police put the damage after the accident at 5,000 euros.
Wir geben im Bericht auch die genaue Teilnehmerzahl an.
In the report, we also state the exact number of participants.