mortgage / burden
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mortgage
A loan usually taken out to buy real estate, with the property itself serving as security for the bank. It is a lien on real property.
Um das Haus zu finanzieren, mussten sie eine hohe Hypothek aufnehmen.
To finance the house, they had to take out a large mortgage.
burden
In a figurative sense, a heavy burden or disadvantage that comes from the past and negatively affects the present or future.
Die Korruptionsaffäre ist eine schwere Hypothek für den Wahlkampf der Partei.
The corruption scandal is a heavy burden for the party's election campaign.
In a financial context, 'Hypothek' (mortgage) is often combined with certain verbs. You can say 'eine Hypothek aufnehmen' (to take out a mortgage), 'abbezahlen' (to pay off), or 'tilgen' (to repay the debt).
Sie müssen die Hypothek für ihr Haus noch zwanzig Jahre lang abbezahlen.
They still have to pay off the mortgage on their house for another twenty years.
When you want to state what the mortgage is on, the preposition 'auf' is used with the accusative. So you say 'eine Hypothek auf das Haus' (a mortgage on the house).
Auf der Immobilie lastet noch eine hohe Hypothek.
There is still a large mortgage on the property.
In the figurative meaning, 'Hypothek' (burden) is often combined with adjectives such as 'schwer' (heavy), 'politisch' (political), or 'historisch' (historical). It then describes a problem that comes from the past.
Die ungelösten Umweltprobleme sind eine schwere Hypothek für zukünftige Generationen.
The unresolved environmental problems are a heavy burden for future generations.
The figurative meaning of 'Hypothek' (burden) is typical of elevated written language, especially in journalism and political discussions.
Der Skandal ist eine moralische Hypothek, die der Kandidat mit sich trägt.
The scandal is a moral burden that the candidate carries with him.
burden / load
Belastung is the general word for heavy psychological or emotional pressure. In a figurative sense, Hypothek describes a heavy burden or disadvantage that comes from the past and continues to have an effect. Hypothek is more precise when this particular connection to the past is relevant.
Der alte Skandal ist eine schwere Hypothek für das Unternehmen.
The old scandal is a heavy burden for the company.
Der aktuelle Konflikt im Team ist eine schwere Belastung für das Unternehmen.
The current conflict within the team is a heavy burden for the company.
