drängen
to urge
To get someone to do something through requests, arguments, or pressure; to hurry someone along.
EXAMPLE
Lass dich von ihm nicht zu einer schnellen Entscheidung drängen.
Don't let him urge you into making a quick decision.
drängen
to urge / push
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Meanings
drängen
to push
To make a path for oneself or others, or move to a particular place, by physically pushing or pressing.
EXAMPLE
Die Fans drängten nach dem Konzert in Richtung der Ausgänge.
After the concert, the fans pushed toward the exits.
drängen
time is pressing
Used in the expression 'die Zeit drängt' to express that something is urgent and little time is available.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen jetzt los, die Zeit drängt.
We have to leave now; time is pressing.
sich drängen
to crowd together
To press together or gather in large numbers in a confined space.
EXAMPLE
Die Menschen drängten sich im überfüllten Bus.
People crowded together in the overcrowded bus.
Usage tips
Different uses
'Drängen' (to urge/push) can be used transitively ('jemanden zu etwas drängen' — to urge someone to do something), reflexively ('sich in der Menge drängen' — to crowd together in the crowd), or intransitively in a fixed expression ('die Zeit drängt' — time is pressing). The meaning changes depending on the construction.
EXAMPLE
Er drängte mich zu einer Antwort.
He urged me to give an answer.
Sentence structure with 'zu'
When someone wants to persuade someone, the preposition 'zu' with the dative often follows, or an infinitive clause with 'zu'. The person being urged is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Meine Eltern drängen mich zu einem Medizinstudium.
My parents are urging me to study medicine.
Indicating direction
When 'drängen' (to push) describes a physical movement, the direction is often indicated with prepositions such as 'in' (into), 'an' (toward/up to), 'zu' (to), or 'durch' (through).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder drängten an die Eisdiele.
The children pushed toward the ice cream shop.
Fixed expression
The expression 'die Zeit drängt' (time is pressing) is a fixed expression and means that something is very urgent. The subject in this sentence is always 'die Zeit' (time).
EXAMPLE
Können wir das später besprechen? Die Zeit drängt, ich muss zum Bahnhof.
Can we discuss this later? Time is pressing; I have to get to the train station.
Reflexive use
The reflexive verb 'sich drängen' (to crowd together) is used to describe a large group of people or things in a confined space. It is often combined with an indication of place.
EXAMPLE
Die Reporter drängten sich um den Politiker.
The reporters crowded around the politician.
Compare with
drängen vs zwingen
to force
Both verbs can mean that pressure moves a person to take an action. zwingen presents the action as being against the person's will and leaving no real choice, while drängen exerts strong influence but leaves a decision open. drängen fits requests or arguments, while zwingen fits direct coercion.
drängen
Seine Kollegen drängten ihn, den Vertrag noch am selben Tag zu unterschreiben.
His colleagues urged him to sign the contract that same day.
zwingen
Die Drohung zwang ihn, den Vertrag sofort zu unterschreiben.
The threat forced him to sign the contract immediately.
In real life
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