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gekauft
bought
Acquired by paying for it; not borrowed, given as a gift, or made oneself.
example
Diese Torte ist nicht selbst gebacken, sondern gekauft.
This cake was not homemade, but bought.
gekauft
bought
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word formation
'Gekauft' (bought) is the past participle of the verb 'kaufen' (to buy). It is used as an adjective to describe that something was acquired through a purchase.
EXAMPLE
Das Fahrrad ist nicht neu, sondern gebraucht gekauft.
The bicycle is not new, but was bought used.
Context clue
The meaning changes depending on the context. If 'gekauft' (bought) refers to a thing, it means 'acquired.' If it refers to a person (e.g. a referee, politician) or a result (e.g. a victory), it means 'bribed' or 'rigged.'
EXAMPLE
Der Kuchen ist gekauft, nicht selbstgemacht.
The cake is bought, not homemade.
Typical use
In its literal meaning, 'gekauft' (bought) is often used as the opposite of 'selbst gemacht' (homemade), 'geliehen' (borrowed), or 'geschenkt' (given as a gift).
EXAMPLE
Ist dein Kleid gekauft oder hast du es selbst genäht?
Did you buy your dress, or did you sew it yourself?
Typical collocations
In the figurative, negative meaning, 'gekauft' (bought/bribed) is often connected with people or their actions. Typical phrases are 'ein gekaufter Zeuge' (a bribed witness), 'ein gekaufter Schiedsrichter' (a bribed referee), or 'gekaufte Stimmen' (bought votes).
EXAMPLE
Die Opposition sprach von einem gekauften Wahlergebnis.
The opposition spoke of a bought election result.
Compare with
gekauft vs bezahlt
paid
'bezahlt' and 'gekauft' are closely related because money plays a role in both. For things, 'bezahlt' means that the money has already been given; the bill is settled. 'gekauft' means that you acquired something by paying for it and now own it. You may have bought something, but it might not yet be fully paid for. In the negative meaning, both can also refer to bribery. A 'bezahlte' person has received money for a specific action; a 'gekaufte' person sounds especially derogatory and means that they no longer act honestly or independently. The words can be confused because both have to do with money and ownership or influence.
gekauft
Omar trägt heute eine gekaufte Jacke und nicht die geliehene von seinem Bruder.
Omar is wearing a jacket he bought today, not the one he borrowed from his brother.
bezahlt
Die Rechnung ist bezahlt, weil Mehmet sie direkt nach dem Termin überwiesen hat.
The bill is paid because Mehmet transferred the money right after the appointment.
In real life
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