das Auftauchen
appearance
The appearance or becoming visible of a person or thing, often suddenly or unexpectedly.
EXAMPLE
Das plötzliche Auftauchen des Zeugen überraschte alle.
The witness’s sudden appearance surprised everyone.
das Auftauchen
appearance / surfacing
das Auftauchen
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Meanings
das Auftauchen
surfacing
The return to the surface of the water after being underwater.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Auftauchen nahm der Taucher seine Maske ab.
After surfacing, the diver took off his mask.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Auftauchen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Auftauchens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Auftauchen | – |
| accusative | das Auftauchen | – |
| dative | dem Auftauchen | – |
| genitive | des Auftauchens | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Das Auftauchen' (surfacing / appearing) is the nominalized form of the separable verb 'auftauchen' (to surface / appear) and consists of 'auf' (up) and 'tauchen' (to dive). The prefix 'auf' often indicates movement upward; as a noun, the combination is written as one word.
EXAMPLE
Beim Auftauchen aus dem Wasser verlor der Schwimmer seine Brille.
When surfacing from the water, the swimmer lost his glasses.
Sentence pattern
'Das Auftauchen von' (the appearance of) is often used to name the person or thing that appears or becomes visible. The dative follows 'von'.
EXAMPLE
Das unerwartete Auftauchen von alten Fotos löste viele Erinnerungen aus.
The unexpected appearance of old photos brought back many memories.
Typical collocations
For the appearance of a person or thing, common combinations include 'plötzliches Auftauchen' (sudden appearance), 'unerwartetes Auftauchen' (unexpected appearance), and 'das Auftauchen eines Zeugen' (the appearance of a witness). This meaning is especially suited to situations involving surprise or uncertainty.
EXAMPLE
Das plötzliche Auftauchen eines fremden Mannes beunruhigte die Nachbarn.
The sudden appearance of a strange man alarmed the neighbors.
Water-related context
The meaning related to the water’s surface can be recognized from words associated with diving, swimming, or water. Typical combinations are 'beim Auftauchen' (when surfacing), 'nach dem Auftauchen' (after surfacing), and 'das Auftauchen aus dem Wasser' (surfacing from the water).
EXAMPLE
Beim Auftauchen aus großer Tiefe muss ein Taucher mehrere Pausen einlegen.
When surfacing from a great depth, a diver has to make several stops.
In real life
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