hieroglyph
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hieroglyph
A character from the ancient Egyptian writing system, often pictorial in form. The term is also used for similar pictorial scripts of other ancient cultures.
Forscher arbeiten seit Jahrzehnten daran, die Hieroglyphen auf dem alten Papyrus zu entziffern.
Researchers have been working for decades to decipher the hieroglyphs on the ancient papyrus.
scribble
Colloquial and derogatory for illegible, messy handwriting or incomprehensible symbols.
Die Notizen meines Arztes sind reine Hieroglyphen, ich kann kein Wort lesen.
My doctor's notes are pure scribbles; I can't read a single word.
The meaning of the word becomes clear from context. If people are talking about ancient Egypt, history, or written characters, it refers to pictorial writing. If it is about illegible handwriting, for example on a prescription or note, the colloquial meaning is intended.
Der Ägyptologe erklärte die Bedeutung der einzelnen Hieroglyphen.
The Egyptologist explained the meaning of the individual hieroglyphs.
In connection with ancient Egyptian writing, 'Hieroglyphe' (hieroglyph) is often used with verbs such as 'entziffern' (to decipher), 'lesen' (to read), or 'übersetzen' (to translate).
Es ist sehr schwierig, diese alten Hieroglyphen zu entziffern.
It is very difficult to decipher these ancient hieroglyphs.
Using 'Hieroglyphe' (hieroglyph/scribble) for illegible handwriting is colloquial and slightly ironic or derogatory. People use it to make fun of messy handwriting or to complain about it.
Kannst du deine eigenen Hieroglyphen überhaupt noch entziffern?
Can you even decipher your own scribbles anymore?
