harbor / port
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harbor / port
An area on a coast or river where ships can dock, be loaded and unloaded, and be protected from storms.
Das große Containerschiff läuft gerade in den Hamburger Hafen ein.
The large container ship is just entering the port of Hamburg.
The word 'Hafen' (harbor/port) is a very productive component in compound nouns. A well-known example is 'der Flughafen' (airport), which is literally a 'harbor for airplanes.'
Wir müssen um 16 Uhr am Flughafen sein.
We have to be at the airport at 4 p.m.
In the literal meaning, the preposition is important. Movement toward a place is expressed with the accusative ('in den Hafen fahren' — to sail/drive into the harbor), while a state or position requires the dative ('im Hafen liegen' — to be lying/moored in the harbor).
Das Schiff fährt langsam in den Hafen.
The ship is slowly sailing into the harbor.
You can recognize the figurative meaning 'Zufluchtsort' (place of refuge) from combinations with adjectives like 'sicher' (safe), 'ruhig' (quiet), or nouns like 'Zuflucht' (refuge) and 'Geborgenheit' (security/shelter). The literal meaning is usually clear from words like 'Schiff' (ship), 'Wasser' (water), or 'Küste' (coast).
Für viele Künstler war die Stadt ein Hafen der Kreativität.
For many artists, the city was a haven of creativity.
The expression 'der Hafen der Ehe' (the haven of marriage) is a fixed phrase. It is often used slightly ironically or traditionally to describe the beginning of a marriage.
Nach langer Verlobungszeit steuerten sie endlich den Hafen der Ehe an.
After a long engagement, they finally steered toward the haven of marriage.
marriage
'die Ehe' and 'der Hafen' are normally not synonyms. However, they are connected in the fixed expression 'der Hafen der Ehe' (the haven of marriage). This expression means the state of being married. It sounds traditional and often slightly ironic or joking. 'die Ehe' is the normal, neutral word for the recognized life partnership between two people. 'der Hafen der Ehe' is used more in casual texts, speeches, or jokes about getting married. In everyday or official situations, 'Ehe' is clearer and more natural.
Nach der Hochzeit scherzte sein Bruder, dass er nun im Hafen der Ehe angekommen sei.
After the wedding, his brother joked that he had now arrived in the haven of marriage.
Nach zehn Jahren ist ihre Ehe immer noch sehr glücklich.
After ten years, their marriage is still very happy.