eitel
vain
Being overly concerned with one's own appearance and the impression one makes on others; self-satisfied.
EXAMPLE
Er ist so eitel, dass er vor jedem Spiegel stehen bleibt.
He is so vain that he stops in front of every mirror.
eitel
vain
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Meanings
eitel
nothing but
In the expression 'eitel Sonnenschein', it means 'pure' or 'nothing but'. The expression describes an untroubled, perfect harmony.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem großen Streit herrschte bei ihnen nicht sofort wieder eitel Sonnenschein.
After the big argument, things were not immediately nothing but sunshine between them again.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning of 'eitel' depends strongly on the context. If it describes a person, it means 'self-satisfied' or 'vain'. If it appears in the fixed expression 'eitel Sonnenschein' (nothing but sunshine), it means 'pure' or 'nothing but'.
EXAMPLE
Mein Kollege ist ziemlich eitel und achtet immer perfekt auf seine Kleidung.
My colleague is quite vain and always pays perfect attention to his clothes.
Use as an adjective
As an adjective, 'eitel' (vain) can stand before a noun and is then declined, or it can stand alone after a verb like 'sein' (to be), predicatively. It always describes a characteristic of a person.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist nicht nur intelligent, sondern auch ein bisschen eitel.
She is not only intelligent, but also a little vain.
Fixed expression
The expression 'eitel Sonnenschein' (nothing but sunshine) describes a perfect, problem-free situation. It is often negated ('nicht nur eitel Sonnenschein' — not just sunshine and roses) to express that there are also difficulties.
EXAMPLE
Eine gute Ehe besteht nicht nur aus eitel Sonnenschein.
A good marriage is not just sunshine and roses.
Compare with
eitel vs stolz
proud
Stolz and eitel (vain) can both describe a person who thinks highly of themselves. Stolz is more closely related to dignity and one's sense of self-worth and can also be positive. Eitel, on the other hand, emphasizes enjoying one's own appearance and the impression one makes on others, usually with a negative evaluation.
eitel
Er ist eitel und prüft vor dem Auftritt immer wieder sein Aussehen im Spiegel.
He is vain and repeatedly checks his appearance in the mirror before the performance.
stolz
Er ist stolz und bewahrt auch nach dem Erfolg seine Würde.
He is proud and maintains his dignity even after the success.
In real life
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