gemeint
meant
Refers to the person, thing, or situation that is actually intended in a statement or question.
EXAMPLE
Nein, nicht du warst gemeint, sondern dein Bruder.
No, you weren't meant, your brother was.
gemeint
meant
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Meanings
gemeint
intended
Describes the purpose or intention behind an action or statement.
EXAMPLE
Das war nur als Scherz gemeint, ich wollte dich nicht verletzen.
That was only intended as a joke; I didn't want to hurt you.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Gemeint' (meant) is the past participle of the verb 'meinen' (to mean). It is used like an adjective, but almost always together with a form of the verb 'sein' (to be).
EXAMPLE
Ich glaube, mit dieser Regel ist etwas anderes gemeint.
I think this rule means something else.
Typical questions
The word is used very often in questions to ask for a more precise explanation or identification. Typical questions are 'Wer ist gemeint?' (Who is meant?) or 'Was ist damit gemeint?' (What is meant by that?).
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer sagte, einer von uns soll an die Tafel kommen. Wer war wohl gemeint?
The teacher said one of us should come to the board. I wonder who was meant?
Describing intention
To describe the intention behind something, 'gemeint' (meant) is often combined with an adverb. Common combinations are 'gut gemeint' (well meant), 'böse gemeint' (meant maliciously), 'als Scherz gemeint' (intended as a joke), or 'ernst gemeint' (meant seriously).
EXAMPLE
Seine Kritik war nicht böse gemeint, sondern sollte dir nur helfen.
His criticism wasn't meant maliciously; it was only supposed to help you.
Compare with
gemeint vs bestimmt
certain / specific
Bestimmt identifies who an object is specifically assigned to or what purpose it is meant to serve. Gemeint, by contrast, identifies which person or thing is actually being addressed by a statement. Bestimmt therefore fits an assignment, while gemeint fits a linguistic reference.
gemeint
Mit „der neuen Kollegin“ ist Lea gemeint.
Lea is the person meant by “the new colleague.”
bestimmt
Dieses Paket ist für die neue Kollegin bestimmt.
This package is intended for the new colleague.
In real life
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