to atone / pay a fine
Loading your saved state.
to atone for
To bear the negative consequences for an offense, guilt, or sin and thereby make amends for it. It often has a moral or religious dimension.
Er war der Überzeugung, für seine Taten in der Jugend ein Leben lang büssen zu müssen.
He was convinced that he would have to atone for his actions in his youth for the rest of his life.
to pay a fine
To have to pay a monetary penalty (a fine) for an administrative offense or a minor violation.
Wer hier falsch parkt, muss mit 50 Euro büssen.
Anyone who parks illegally here will have to pay a fine of 50 euros.
The verb 'büßen' (to atone, to pay a fine) is closely connected with the nouns 'die Buße' (atonement, penance, punishment) and 'das Bußgeld' (fine). This connection helps you understand both meanings of the verb.
Für seine Fehler musste er teuer büßen.
He had to pay dearly for his mistakes.
In the moral meaning 'to atone', 'büßen' (to atone) is always used with the preposition 'für' followed by the accusative. You always atone 'für' (for) an act or a sin.
Im Roman muss der Held für die Sünden seiner Vorfahren büßen.
In the novel, the hero must atone for the sins of his ancestors.
The meaning 'to atone for guilt' belongs to an elevated, often literary or religious style. It is rarely used in normal everyday life.
Der Priester sagte ihm, er müsse für seine Lügen büßen.
The priest told him that he had to atone for his lies.
When it is about a monetary penalty, 'büßen' (to pay a fine) is often used directly with the amount as an accusative object. For example, you can say '50 Euro büßen' (to pay a fine of 50 euros).
Wenn du zu schnell fährst, musst du ordentlich büßen.
If you drive too fast, you'll have to pay a hefty fine.
to pay
Zahlen is the neutral term for giving money and can also refer to paying a fine. Büssen, by contrast, puts the offense and the monetary penalty imposed for it at the center.
Paul muss das Falschparken mit einer Geldstrafe von 40 Euro büssen.
Paul has to pay a 40-euro fine for parking illegally.
Nach dem Falschparken muss Paul ein Bußgeld von 40 Euro zahlen.
After parking illegally, Paul has to pay a 40-euro fine.
