into it / in
Loading your saved state.
into it / in
(elevated, becoming archaic) A shortened form of 'darein' (into it, into there). It describes an action, a look, or an utterance that occurs into a situation or in a direction, often with a certain suddenness or intensity.
Warum schaust du denn so finster drein?
Why are you looking so gloomy?
'Drein' (into it, in) is an old contracted form of 'darein', which means roughly 'hinein' (into, in). This origin helps you understand its directional meaning.
Plötzlich redete er einfach drein, ohne zu fragen.
Suddenly he just cut in without asking.
This word belongs to an elevated style and is only rarely used today. It often sounds literary or poetic.
Der alte Mann blickte nachdenklich drein.
The old man looked thoughtful.
'Drein' (into it, in) is used almost only in fixed combinations with certain verbs. The most common are 'dreinschauen' or 'dreinblicken' (to look a certain way, to have a certain expression) and 'dreinreden' (to interrupt someone).
Schau nicht so traurig drein, es wird alles gut!
Don't look so sad; everything will be all right!
in it / therein
'darin' and 'drein' can look similar, and both have something to do with 'hinein' or 'in something'. 'darin' is the normal word and refers to something mentioned earlier: a room, a container, a text, or also a situation. 'drein' is rare, rather elevated or old-fashioned. You find it mainly in fixed or literary expressions, for example when someone looks sad or serious, as in 'traurig drein schauen' (to look sad). In everyday language, learners should almost always use 'darin' when they mean 'in this' or 'involved in it'.
Nach der schlechten Nachricht schaute er lange traurig drein.
After the bad news, he looked sad for a long time.
Ich habe die Tasche geöffnet, aber darin war nur ein altes Buch.
I opened the bag, but there was only an old book in it.