01
hin
there
Expresses movement away from the speaker toward a specific destination. It is the opposite of 'her' (toward here).
example
Geh du schon mal hin, ich komme gleich nach.
You go there ahead of me; I’ll come along in a moment.
hin
there / toward
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Basic meaning: direction
The core function of 'hin' is to indicate movement that leads away from the speaker. It describes the direction toward a destination.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder laufen zum Spielplatz hin.
The children run toward the playground.
As a separable prefix
'Hin' is a very productive separable prefix for many verbs of movement. Examples include 'hingehen' (to go there), 'hinfahren' (to drive/go there), 'hinlegen' (to put down), or 'hinsehen' (to look there/closely).
EXAMPLE
Ich muss später noch zur Post hingehen.
I still have to go to the post office later.
Sentence structure with separable verbs
When 'hin' is used as a prefix, it stands at the end of the main clause. In subordinate clauses and infinitive constructions, it remains attached to the verb.
EXAMPLE
Er legte das Buch auf den Tisch hin.
He put the book down on the table.
Fixed expression: hin und her
The combination 'hin und her' describes repeated movement in two opposite directions. It is often used with verbs like 'laufen' (to walk/run), 'fahren' (to drive/go), or 'pendeln' (to commute/shuttle).
EXAMPLE
Der Tiger im Zoo lief unruhig in seinem Käfig hin und her.
The tiger in the zoo paced restlessly back and forth in its cage.
Colloquial meaning
In colloquial language, 'hin' often means “broken” or “spoiled.” This usage is very common but should be avoided in formal texts.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mein Glas fallen lassen, jetzt ist es hin.
I dropped my glass; now it’s done for.
Fixed expression: hin und wieder
The expression 'hin und wieder' is a fixed phrase and means “sometimes” or “occasionally.” It can stand in different positions in the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Wir gehen hin und wieder zusammen ins Kino.
We go to the movies together now and then.
Fixed construction
The structure 'von ... bis hin zu ...' is used to describe a wide range or variety. Here, 'hin' emphasizes the endpoint of the list.
EXAMPLE
Das Festival bietet alles, von lokaler Musik bis hin zu internationalen Stars.
The festival offers everything from local music all the way to international stars.
Colloquial expression
The expression 'hin sein von jemandem/etwas' is colloquial and expresses strong enthusiasm or fascination. It is always used with the preposition 'von' and the dative.
EXAMPLE
Meine kleine Schwester ist total hin von diesem neuen Popsänger.
My little sister is totally crazy about this new pop singer.
Compare with
hin vs zurück
back
'zurück' and 'hin' can both describe a direction, but they point in opposite directions. 'zurück' means movement toward the starting point or to a previous place. 'hin' means movement toward a destination, usually away from the speaker or the current location. Learners easily confuse them because both often appear with routes and movement. A simple way to orient yourself is: 'zurück' means back to where you were before; 'hin' means there, toward a destination.
hin
Maria fährt am Freitag zu ihren Freunden hin.
Maria is going to her friends’ place on Friday.
zurück
Nach dem Einkauf geht Herr Neumann direkt nach Hause zurück.
After shopping, Mr. Neumann goes straight back home.
In real life
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