das Treiben
bustle
Lively, often restless activity involving many people in one place.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Marktplatz herrschte buntes Treiben.
There was a lively bustle in the market square.
das Treiben
bustle / activity / drive
das Treiben, die Treiben
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Meanings
das Treiben
goings-on
The behavior or activities of a person or group, usually with a critical or disapproving connotation.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei beobachtete das Treiben der Bande schon seit Wochen.
The police had been observing the gang's goings-on for weeks.
das Treiben
drive (hunting)
The act of chasing or directing animals, especially game, in a particular direction.
EXAMPLE
Beim Treiben wurde das Wild aus dem Wald auf die Lichtung gelenkt.
During the drive, the game was directed out of the forest into the clearing.
das Treiben
metal chasing
A craft technique in which metal is shaped by hammering it into a particular form.
EXAMPLE
Das Treiben des Kupfers erfordert viel Erfahrung.
Chasing copper requires a great deal of experience.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Treiben, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Treiben |
| genitive | des Treibens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Treiben | die Treiben |
| accusative | das Treiben | die Treiben |
| dative | dem Treiben | den Treiben |
| genitive | des Treibens | der Treiben |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Nominalized verb
'Treiben' (bustle / activity / drive) is a nominalized verb and therefore often refers to a process or ongoing activity. As a noun, it takes the article 'das' and is capitalized.
EXAMPLE
Das ständige Treiben auf der Baustelle störte die Anwohner.
The constant activity at the construction site disturbed the residents.
Wir beobachteten das Treiben am Hafen eine Weile.
We watched the activity at the harbor for a while.
Genitive construction
'Das Treiben' (the activity / goings-on) is often used to indicate who is acting or whose activities are meant. For this purpose, the person or group often appears in the genitive after 'das Treiben'.
EXAMPLE
Das Treiben der Jugendlichen auf dem verlassenen Gelände machte die Nachbarn nervös.
The teenagers' activity on the abandoned site made the neighbors nervous.
Die Journalisten dokumentierten das Treiben der Anhänger vor dem Stadion.
The journalists documented the supporters' activities outside the stadium.
Context clue
Signal words help identify the meaning: places with many people suggest lively activity, 'Wild' (game) or 'Jagd' (hunting) suggest driving animals, and 'Kupfer' (copper), 'Metall' (metal), or 'Hämmern' (hammering) suggest the craft technique.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Festplatz konnten wir das bunte Treiben beobachten.
We were able to watch the lively bustle at the festival grounds.
Nach dem Treiben zählten die Jäger das erlegte Wild.
After the drive, the hunters counted the game they had killed.
Das Treiben des Metalls mit dem Hammer verlangt viel Geschick.
Chasing the metal with a hammer requires a great deal of skill.
Typical collocations
For lively activity in a place, common expressions include 'buntes Treiben' (lively bustle), 'reges Treiben' (busy activity), and 'geschäftiges Treiben' (bustling activity). It is also often said that a particular kind of activity 'herrscht' (prevails) in a place.
EXAMPLE
Am Bahnhof herrschte am frühen Morgen reges Treiben.
There was a great deal of activity at the station early in the morning.
Das bunte Treiben auf dem Volksfest lockte viele Besucher an.
The lively bustle at the folk festival attracted many visitors.
Critical context
In this meaning, 'Treiben' (goings-on) is often used with evaluative adjectives such as 'dubios' (dubious), 'kriminell' (criminal), or 'unerlaubt' (illegal). The genitive construction with a person or group shows whose activities are being criticized.
EXAMPLE
Die Behörden gingen gegen das kriminelle Treiben der Bande vor.
The authorities took action against the gang's criminal activities.
Niemand wusste, wie lange das dubiose Treiben des Vereins schon andauerte.
No one knew how long the club's dubious activities had been going on.
Hunters' jargon
The meaning involving the directing of game is especially associated with hunting terminology. Typical expressions include 'beim Treiben' (during the drive), 'das Treiben des Wildes' (driving the game), and 'das Wild in eine Richtung treiben' (to drive the game in one direction).
EXAMPLE
Beim Treiben blieb das Wild zunächst tief im Gebüsch.
During the drive, the game initially stayed deep in the undergrowth.
Die Jäger beobachteten das Treiben des Wildes vom Hochsitz aus.
The hunters watched the game being driven from their raised hunting stand.
Craft terminology
In metalworking, 'Treiben' (metal chasing) refers to a craft technique and is often used with materials such as copper, brass, or silver. Tools and activities such as 'Hammer' (hammer) and 'Hämmern' (hammering) also fit this technical context.
EXAMPLE
Das Treiben von Messing erfordert einen sicheren Umgang mit dem Hammer.
Chasing brass requires confident handling of the hammer.
Beim Treiben des Silbers entstand langsam eine runde Schale.
While chasing the silver, a round bowl slowly began to take shape.
In real life
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