der Dschungel
jungle
A very dense, impenetrable forest in tropical regions with lush vegetation.
EXAMPLE
Forscher entdeckten im Dschungel von Borneo eine neue Pflanzenart.
Researchers discovered a new plant species in the jungles of Borneo.
der Dschungel
jungle
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Meanings
der Dschungel
jungle
In a figurative sense, a confusing, bewildering, and complex situation or collection of things.
EXAMPLE
Ohne professionelle Hilfe verliert man sich im Dschungel der Steuergesetze.
Without professional help, you get lost in the jungle of tax laws.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can recognize the literal meaning (forest) from words like 'Tiere' (animals), 'Pflanzen' (plants), or 'reisen' (to travel). You can recognize the figurative meaning (complex situation) from abstract terms like 'Gesetze' (laws), 'Bürokratie' (bureaucracy), or 'Informationen' (information).
EXAMPLE
Er überlebte eine Woche allein im Dschungel.
He survived alone in the jungle for a week.
Fixed expression
The expression 'das Gesetz des Dschungels' (the law of the jungle) describes a situation in which only the strongest survive or prevail and there are no rules or morals.
EXAMPLE
In dieser Branche herrscht ein harter Wettbewerb, es gilt das Gesetz des Dschungels.
In this industry there is fierce competition; the law of the jungle applies.
Typical adjectives
In its literal meaning, 'Dschungel' (jungle) is often combined with adjectives like 'tropisch' (tropical), 'dicht' (dense), 'grün' (green), or 'undurchdringlich' (impenetrable).
EXAMPLE
Die Expedition kämpfte sich durch den dichten tropischen Dschungel.
The expedition fought its way through the dense tropical jungle.
Typical compounds
In the figurative meaning, 'Dschungel' (jungle) is often the second part of compounds. Common examples are 'der Paragraphendschungel' (jungle of legal clauses), 'der Bürokratiedschungel' (bureaucratic jungle), or 'der Großstadtdschungel' (urban jungle).
EXAMPLE
Der Anwalt half ihr durch den Paragraphendschungel.
The lawyer helped her through the jungle of legal clauses.
Use with preposition
To describe the confusing situation, the structure 'ein Dschungel aus' or 'ein Dschungel an' followed by a noun in the dative is often used.
EXAMPLE
Für Laien ist das ein Dschungel aus Fachbegriffen.
For laypeople, this is a jungle of technical terms.
Compare with
Dschungel vs Wald
forest
The Wald can figuratively refer to a large, hard-to-survey mass of similar things. Dschungel, by contrast, emphasizes that a situation is not only extensive but also confusing and complex. Wald is suitable for a sheer multitude; Dschungel is more appropriate when it is difficult to find your way around.
Dschungel
Ohne klare Anleitung verlor sie sich im Dschungel aus Zahlen und Tabellen.
Without clear instructions, she got lost in the jungle of numbers and tables.
Wald
Auf dem Bildschirm erschien ein Wald aus Zahlen und Tabellen.
A forest of numbers and tables appeared on the screen.
In real life
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