to interview
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to interview
To have a focused conversation with a person in order to obtain information, usually for the media, a scientific study, or as part of an application process.
Die Personalchefin wird morgen drei Kandidaten für die Stelle interviewen.
The head of HR will interview three candidates for the position tomorrow.
The verb 'interviewen' (to interview) comes from the English word 'interview'. It was adapted to the German verb system with the ending '-en' and is conjugated as a regular weak verb.
Der Journalist hat den Politiker eine Stunde lang interviewt.
The journalist interviewed the politician for an hour.
The verb 'interviewen' (to interview) is transitive and always requires a direct object in the accusative. You ask: whom or what is someone interviewing?
Die Forscherin interviewt Zeitzeugen für ihre Studie.
The researcher is interviewing contemporary witnesses for her study.
The verb is mainly used in three contexts: in journalism ('einen Prominenten interviewen' — to interview a celebrity), in job applications ('einen Kandidaten interviewen' — to interview a candidate), and in academia ('einen Experten interviewen' — to interview an expert).
Für meine Masterarbeit muss ich mehrere Experten interviewen.
For my master's thesis, I have to interview several experts.
to ask
'fragen' and 'interviewen' both have to do with wanting to get information from a person. 'fragen' is the general word: you ask one or more questions in everyday life, at school, or at work. 'interviewen' means having a planned, focused conversation, often for a newspaper, a study, a film, or a job application. Learners may confuse the words because many questions are asked in an interview. But not every act of asking is an interview. If it is only about a single piece of information, 'fragen' is more natural.
Für den Kurs interviewt Mehmet eine Ärztin über ihren Beruf.
For the course, Mehmet interviews a doctor about her job.
Im Supermarkt fragt der Verkäufer, ob ich eine Tüte brauche.
At the supermarket, the cashier asks whether I need a bag.