burden
Loading your saved state.
burden
A heavy psychological or emotional burden, a great responsibility, or a serious problem.
Die alleinige Verantwortung für das Unternehmen war eine große Bürde für ihn.
Being solely responsible for the company was a great burden for him.
burden
A heavy load that is physically carried.
Der Esel trug geduldig seine schwere Bürde den Berg hinauf.
The donkey patiently carried its heavy burden up the mountain.
The word 'Bürde' (burden) is related to the old verb 'gebären' (to bear/give birth), which originally also meant 'to carry'. So a 'Bürde' is literally something that one carries—whether a heavy box or a great responsibility.
Die Schulden seiner Eltern wurden für ihn zu einer schweren Bürde.
His parents' debts became a heavy burden for him.
In the figurative sense, 'Bürde' (burden) is often used with verbs such as 'tragen' (to bear/carry), 'darstellen' (to represent/constitute), or 'sein' (to be). Common adjectives are 'schwer' (heavy), 'groß' (great), or 'finanziell' (financial).
Die Pflege seiner Eltern war eine große Bürde, die er aber gerne trug.
Caring for his parents was a great burden, but one he gladly bore.
To express for whom something is a burden, the preposition 'für' (for) with the accusative is used very frequently. The construction is often: 'etwas ist eine Bürde für jemanden' (something is a burden for someone).
Die ständigen Reisen sind für mich mit der Zeit zu einer Bürde geworden.
Over time, the constant travel has become a burden for me.
The meaning of a physically carried load is rare today and often sounds elevated or poetic. It is found mainly in literary or historical texts.
Der alte Mann trug seine Bürde aus Feuerholz den steilen Pfad hinauf.
The old man carried his burden of firewood up the steep path.
burden / load
Last and Bürde can both refer to a heavy personal responsibility or emotional burden. Last is the more neutral choice in everyday language. Bürde sounds more elevated and usually emphasizes more strongly how heavy and oppressive the responsibility is for a person.
In ihrer feierlichen Rede nannte sie die Verantwortung für das Unternehmen eine schwere Bürde.
In her formal speech, she called being responsible for the company a heavy burden.
Im Alltag ist die Verantwortung für das Unternehmen oft eine große Last für sie.
In everyday life, being responsible for the company is often a great burden for her.
