to indicate / point
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to indicate
To be a sign of something or to suggest something. It is often used for abstract connections to refer to a possible cause or consequence.
Alle Beweise deuten auf den Gärtner als Täter hin.
All the evidence indicates that the gardener is the culprit.
to point
To point with your finger or an object in a certain direction in order to draw attention to something.
Sie deutete auf eine Wolke am Himmel, die wie ein Schiff aussah.
She pointed to a cloud in the sky that looked like a ship.
'Hindeuten' (to indicate/point) is a separable verb. The prefix 'hin' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Seine Nervosität deutet auf seine Schuld hin.
His nervousness indicates his guilt.
This verb is almost always used with the preposition 'auf' and the accusative. It describes a movement or reference in a direction.
Die Spuren im Schnee deuten auf ein großes Tier hin.
The tracks in the snow indicate a large animal.
When the subject is a person, 'hindeuten' often means to point with a finger. When the subject is an abstract thing, e.g. 'Beweise' (evidence), 'Fakten' (facts), or 'Symptome' (symptoms), it means 'to indicate' or 'to suggest'.
Der Zeuge deutete auf den Angeklagten hin.
The witness pointed to the defendant.
In the abstract meaning, typical subjects are words like 'alles' (everything), 'die Fakten' (the facts), 'die Ergebnisse' (the results), 'die Anzeichen' (the signs), or 'die Symptome' (the symptoms).
Alles deutet darauf hin, dass die Firma bald expandieren wird.
Everything indicates that the company will expand soon.
to report / display / advertise
Both verbs can express that a sign makes a possible condition recognizable. „Anzeigen“ is more suitable for a technical message intended to convey this information, while „hindeuten“ describes an inference drawn from the sign. With a warning light, both words can therefore be used, depending on the perspective.
Die Warnleuchte deutet auf einen möglichen Defekt am Motor hin.
The warning light points to a possible engine defect.
Die Warnleuchte zeigt einen möglichen Defekt am Motor an.
The warning light indicates a possible engine defect.
