shock / tremor
Loading your saved state.
tremor
A strong, often sudden physical movement or vibration that passes through the ground or an object.
Die Explosion verursachte eine gewaltige Erschütterung, die noch kilometerweit zu spüren war.
The explosion caused a powerful tremor that could still be felt kilometers away.
The noun 'die Erschütterung' (shock/tremor) comes from the verb 'erschüttern' (to shake/to shock). The verb has the same three main meanings: physical, emotional, and systemic.
Die Nachricht von seiner Krankheit hat uns alle tief erschüttert.
The news of his illness deeply shocked us all.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. Physical 'Erschütterungen' (tremors) can be 'spüren' (felt), e.g. during an earthquake. Emotional 'Erschütterung' (shock) is often 'tief' (deep) and is triggered by news. Systemic 'Erschütterungen' (shocks) affect abstract things like 'die Wirtschaft' (the economy) or 'die Politik' (politics).
Die leichten Erschütterungen waren die Vorboten des Erdbebens.
The slight tremors were the first signs of the earthquake.
In the physical sense, 'Erschütterung' (tremor) is often combined with adjectives such as 'stark' (strong), 'leicht' (slight), or 'spürbar' (noticeable). Typical causes are earthquakes, explosions, or heavy vehicles.
Schwere Lastwagen verursachen oft spürbare Erschütterungen in alten Häusern.
Heavy trucks often cause noticeable tremors in old houses.
In the emotional sense, the combination 'tiefe Erschütterung' (deep shock) is very common. It describes a state of shock after a terrible event.
In ihrer Stimme war die tiefe Erschütterung über den Verlust zu hören.
The deep shock over the loss could be heard in her voice.
In the figurative sense for systems, 'Erschütterung' (shock) is often used with a genitive that indicates what is being shaken: 'die Erschütterung des Systems' (the shaking/shock of the system), 'eine Erschütterung der Finanzmärkte' (a shock to the financial markets).
Die Affäre führte zu einer Erschütterung des Vertrauens in die Regierung.
The affair led to a shock to trust in the government.
crisis
'Krise' and 'Erschütterung' can both describe a serious disruption in a system, for example in politics, the economy, or society. 'Krise' emphasizes the difficult, dangerous situation and the possible turning point. 'Erschütterung' emphasizes more strongly that something fundamental is affected or shaken. The word often sounds very strong and far-reaching. Learners may confuse the words because a severe crisis can also be an 'Erschütterung' (shock). 'Krise' is more general; 'Erschütterung' fits especially when trust, order, or an entire system is seriously affected.
Der Skandal war eine schwere Erschütterung für das Vertrauen in die Politik.
The scandal was a severe shock to trust in politics.
Leon merkt beim Training, dass der Verein nach den Streitigkeiten in einer Krise steckt.
During training, Leon notices that the club is in a crisis after the disputes.