bilden
to form
To form, shape, or put something together; to make up a whole.
EXAMPLE
Die Teilnehmer bildeten einen Kreis, um das Spiel zu beginnen.
The participants formed a circle to start the game.
bilden
to form / educate
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
sich bilden
to form
To arise or be formed, often in a natural way.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Eingang hat sich eine lange Schlange gebildet.
A long line has formed in front of the entrance.
bilden
to educate
To educate, teach, and develop someone's knowledge, abilities, and character.
EXAMPLE
Die Schule soll die Schüler zu verantwortungsbewussten Menschen bilden.
The school is meant to educate students to become responsible people.
sich bilden
to educate oneself
To expand one's own knowledge and personality through learning and experience.
EXAMPLE
Er liest sehr viel, um sich ständig weiter zu bilden.
He reads a lot in order to keep educating himself.
sich eine Meinung bilden
to form an opinion
To arrive at one's own view or judgment about something through thinking and gathering information.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte mir erst alle Fakten ansehen, bevor ich mir eine Meinung bilde.
I want to look at all the facts first before I form an opinion.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'bilden' (to form/educate) is closely related to the noun 'das Bild' (picture/image) and 'die Bildung' (education). The basic idea is to form or shape something, whether it is a physical form, an idea, or a person's personality.
EXAMPLE
Ein guter Lehrer hilft, den Charakter der Schüler zu bilden.
A good teacher helps form the students' character.
Transitive vs. reflexive
'Bilden' (to form/educate) can be used transitively or reflexively. When a person or thing actively forms something, you use 'bilden' with an accusative object. When something arises on its own, you use the reflexive 'sich bilden' (to form).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder bilden eine Kette.
The children form a chain.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'formen' (to form) or 'zusammensetzen' (to put together), 'bilden' (to form) is often used to describe the creation of structures or groups. Typical combinations are 'einen Satz bilden' (to form a sentence), 'eine Regierung bilden' (to form a government), or 'die Grundlage für etwas bilden' (to form the basis for something).
EXAMPLE
Diese zwei Flüsse bilden zusammen den größten Strom des Landes.
These two rivers together form the largest river in the country.
Typical collocations
When something arises on its own, 'sich bilden' (to form) is often combined with natural phenomena or everyday situations. Common phrases are 'ein Stau bildet sich' (a traffic jam forms), 'Wolken bilden sich' (clouds form), or 'eine Kruste bildet sich' (a crust forms).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Regen bildeten sich große Pfützen auf der Straße.
After the rain, large puddles formed on the road.
Sentence structure and register
In the meaning of 'erziehen' (to educate/raise), the structure 'jemanden zu etwas bilden' (to educate someone to become something) is often used. This usage is rather formal and belongs to educational or written language.
EXAMPLE
Das Ziel der Universität ist es, die Studierenden zu kritisch denkenden Menschen zu bilden.
The goal of the university is to educate students to become critical thinkers.
Continuing education
The reflexive form 'sich bilden' (to educate oneself) is often used in the context of lifelong learning. A very common fixed expression is 'sich weiterbilden' (to pursue further training/education), which means to expand one's professional or personal knowledge.
EXAMPLE
Sie besucht Abendkurse, um sich beruflich weiterzubilden.
She attends evening courses to continue her professional development.
Fixed expression
The expression 'sich eine Meinung bilden' (to form an opinion) is a fixed construction. The person is in the dative (mir, dir, sich), and the opinion is in the accusative. The preposition for the topic is 'über' + accusative.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss mir erst noch eine eigene Meinung über den Vorschlag bilden.
I still have to form my own opinion about the proposal first.
Compare with
lernengründenentstehengestaltenaufbauenausbildenunterrichtenausmachenzusammenstellenerziehenformenzusammensetzenschulenformieren
bilden vs lernen
to learn
Lernen generally refers to acquiring specific knowledge or skills. Sich bilden means developing one's knowledge and personality more broadly through learning and experience. For a single skill, lernen is therefore usually the better choice, while sich bilden is used for more comprehensive personal development.
bilden
Durch Kurse, Bücher und Reisen bildet Nina sich weiter.
Nina is broadening her knowledge through courses, books, and travel.
lernen
Im Computerkurs lernt Nina, wie man eine Webseite erstellt.
In her computer course, Nina is learning how to create a website.
In real life
Loading video examples...