01
dahin
there
Indicates movement to a particular, often distant or not precisely specified place.
example
Der Weg führt uns direkt dahin, zum Gipfel des Berges.
The path leads us directly there, to the summit of the mountain.
dahin
there / gone
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of 'da' (there, at that place) and 'hin' (movement in a direction). So it literally describes movement toward a place.
EXAMPLE
Der Bus fährt bis zum Marktplatz, aber wir müssen noch weiter dahin.
The bus goes as far as the market square, but we have to go farther there.
Fixed structure
In the meaning of 'lost' or 'over', 'dahin' (gone) is always combined with the verb 'sein' (to be). The structure is: [Something] ist/war dahin.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Streit war die gute Stimmung dahin.
After the argument, the good mood was gone.
Fixed expression
The combination 'bis dahin' (until then) is a fixed time expression and means 'until that point in time'. It can stand at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle of a sentence.
EXAMPLE
Wir sehen uns nächste Woche. Bis dahin wünsche ich dir alles Gute!
We'll see each other next week. Until then, I wish you all the best!
Typical collocations
To describe an aimless, slow action, 'dahin' is often combined with verbs like 'leben' (to live), 'plätschern' (to babble), 'dösen' (to doze), or 'siechen' (to waste away). It often appears in the expression 'vor sich hin...'.
EXAMPLE
Der alte Mann saß auf der Bank und döste vor sich dahin.
The old man sat on the bench and dozed away.
Compare with
dahin vs da
there / since / then
'da' and 'dahin' both refer to a place, but they do not show the same thing. 'da' describes where something is: at this place. 'dahin' describes a direction or movement to this place. They are easy to confuse because both can point to a mentioned or known place. A memory aid: 'da' is the place, 'dahin' is the way to that place.
dahin
Zum Bahnhof fahre ich morgen früh dahin.
I'm going there, to the train station, early tomorrow morning.
da
Deine Tasche liegt da neben der Tür.
Your bag is there next to the door.
In real life
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