diagnostizieren
to diagnose
To identify an illness or medical problem in a person by analyzing symptoms and examination results.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt diagnostizierte bei ihm eine schwere Grippe.
The doctor diagnosed him with a severe flu.
diagnostizieren
to diagnose
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Meanings
diagnostizieren
to diagnose
In a figurative sense, to analyze and name the cause of a problem in a non-medical context.
EXAMPLE
Die Unternehmensberatung diagnostizierte eine veraltete Managementstruktur als Hauptproblem.
The management consultancy diagnosed an outdated management structure as the main problem.
Usage tips
Word family and structure
The verb 'diagnostizieren' (to diagnose) belongs to the noun 'die Diagnose' (the diagnosis). The ending '-ieren' often signals a verb borrowed from a foreign language. These verbs are always regular and form their past participle with '-t' ('diagnostiziert').
EXAMPLE
Die Diagnose des Arztes war eindeutig.
The doctor's diagnosis was clear.
Context clue
The context shows which meaning is intended. In medical texts with words like 'Arzt' (doctor), 'Patient' (patient), or names of illnesses, it is about the medical diagnosis. In contexts such as 'Unternehmen' (company), 'System' (system), or 'Gesellschaft' (society), the figurative meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Der Techniker diagnostizierte einen Fehler in der Software.
The technician diagnosed an error in the software.
Sentence structure with 'bei'
In medical contexts, the person in whom something is identified is often indicated with the preposition 'bei' and the dative. The illness itself is the accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Bei dem Patienten wurde eine seltene Allergie diagnostiziert.
A rare allergy was diagnosed in the patient.
Typical objects
In the figurative meaning, the things that are usually 'diagnostiziert' (diagnosed) are abstract negative things, for example problems, errors, weaknesses, or a cause.
EXAMPLE
Die Analyse diagnostizierte grundlegende Schwächen im System.
The analysis diagnosed fundamental weaknesses in the system.
Compare with
diagnostizieren vs erkennen
to recognize / realize
Both words can refer to understanding that an illness is the cause. erkennen refers to a general realization about a situation, while diagnostizieren means making a medical determination after analyzing symptoms and examination results. Use diagnostizieren for this specific medical assessment.
diagnostizieren
Die Ärztin diagnostizierte anhand der Beschwerden eine Krankheit.
The doctor diagnosed an illness based on the symptoms.
erkennen
An den Beschwerden erkannte ich, dass eine Krankheit dahinterstecken könnte.
From the symptoms, I realized that an illness might be behind them.
In real life
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