community
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community
The totality of people who live together in an organized community (e.g., a city or a state), as well as their shared interests and institutions.
Freiwilliges Engagement stärkt den Zusammenhalt im Gemeinwesen.
Volunteer work strengthens cohesion in the community.
The word is made up of 'gemein' and 'Wesen'. Here, 'gemein' means 'common/shared' (as in 'Gemeinschaft', community) and not 'mean' or 'evil'. So 'Gemeinwesen' is the 'shared essence' of a society.
Ehrenamtliche Arbeit ist ein wichtiger Beitrag für das Gemeinwesen.
Volunteer work is an important contribution to the community.
'Gemeinwesen' (community) is a rather formal and abstract term. It is used mainly in political, sociological, or official contexts to describe organized society.
Die neue Bibliothek soll ein Treffpunkt für das gesamte Gemeinwesen werden.
The new library is intended to become a meeting place for the entire community.
Common verbs used with this word emphasize contribution to society. Typical phrases are 'dem Gemeinwesen dienen' (to serve the community), 'sich für das Gemeinwesen engagieren' (to be involved in/commit oneself to the community), or 'das Gemeinwesen stärken' (to strengthen the community).
Viele Menschen dienen dem Gemeinwesen durch ihre Arbeit bei der freiwilligen Feuerwehr.
Many people serve the community through their work with the volunteer fire department.
society / company
'die Gesellschaft' and 'das Gemeinwesen' can both refer to the people who live together in a state, a city, or another community. However, 'Gesellschaft' is more general and is often used when talking about social groups, values, problems, or changes. 'Gemeinwesen' sounds more formal and more strongly emphasizes the organized community with shared tasks, rules, and institutions. Learners may confuse the words because both refer not to individual people, but to many people living together. In everyday language and politics, 'Gesellschaft' is usually more natural; 'Gemeinwesen' fits better in official or factual texts.
Ehrenamtliche Arbeit ist wichtig für ein starkes Gemeinwesen.
Volunteer work is important for a strong community.
In unserer Gesellschaft sprechen viele Menschen über mehr Gerechtigkeit.
In our society, many people are talking about greater justice.