joint / fugue
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joint
The narrow gap between two building components, such as tiles, bricks, or floorboards, which is often filled with mortar or a sealant.
Der Handwerker hat die Fugen im Badezimmer neu gemacht.
The craftsman redid the joints in the bathroom.
fugue
A complex, polyphonic musical composition in which a short theme is taken up one after another by different voices and developed artfully.
Johann Sebastian Bach war ein Meister der Fuge.
Johann Sebastian Bach was a master of the fugue.
to fall apart
A fixed expression meaning that an order or system collapses or descends into chaos.
Nach dem plötzlichen Rücktritt des Chefs ist die ganze Abteilung aus den Fugen geraten.
After the boss's sudden resignation, the whole department fell apart.
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'Fuge' from the context. In connection with construction, trades, or words like 'Fliesen' (tiles) and 'Badezimmer' (bathroom), it refers to the gap. In the context of music, composers, or instruments, it refers to the musical form.
Die Fugen zwischen den Steinen müssen erneuert werden.
The joints between the stones need to be renewed.
When it refers to the gap, typical verbs are 'Fugen füllen' (to fill joints), 'reinigen' (to clean), or 'erneuern' (to renew). The word is often used in the plural.
Nach dem Fliesenlegen müssen die Fugen noch gefüllt werden.
After laying the tiles, the joints still need to be filled.
In a musical context, typical combinations are 'eine Fuge komponieren' (to compose a fugue), 'eine Fuge spielen' (to play a fugue), or referring to a person as a 'Meister der Fuge' (master of the fugue).
Der Pianist spielte eine komplexe Fuge von Bach.
The pianist played a complex fugue by Bach.
The idiom 'aus den Fugen geraten' (to fall apart) is a fixed unit. It means that an order collapses. The noun is always plural here ('Fugen'), and the verb is 'geraten'.
Nach der unerwarteten Nachricht schien sein ganzes Leben aus den Fugen zu geraten.
After the unexpected news, his whole life seemed to be falling apart.
seam
With solid materials, both words can refer to a connection point. Naht focuses more on the line where the parts are joined, while Fuge refers to the narrow gap between them. When the focus is on the connection, Naht is used; when it is on the gap, Fuge is used.
Die Fuge zwischen den Fliesen ist an dieser Stelle beschädigt.
The joint between the tiles is damaged at this point.
Die Naht zwischen den Metallteilen muss an dieser Stelle repariert werden.
The seam between the metal parts needs to be repaired at this point.
