die Karte
card
A small, usually rectangular piece of cardboard or plastic for a specific purpose (e.g., postcard, playing card, credit card).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte mit der Karte bezahlen?
Can you please pay by card?
die Karte
card / map
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Meanings
die Karte
map
A geographic representation of an area; a map.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns auf der Karte nachsehen, wo das Hotel genau liegt.
Let's check on the map where exactly the hotel is.
die Karte
menu
A food menu or drinks menu in a restaurant.
EXAMPLE
Entschuldigung, könnten wir bitte die Karte haben?
Excuse me, could we please have the menu?
die Karte
ticket
An admission ticket for an event or a ticket for public transportation.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe noch eine Karte für das Konzert heute Abend übrig.
I still have one ticket left for the concert tonight.
gute Karten haben
to have good chances
To have good prospects of success.
EXAMPLE
Mit seiner Qualifikation hat er bei der Bewerbung wirklich gute Karten.
With his qualifications, he really has good chances in the application process.
alles auf eine Karte setzen
to put all eggs in one basket
To risk everything for a single, uncertain possibility.
EXAMPLE
Mit der Gründung seiner eigenen Firma hat er finanziell alles auf eine Karte gesetzt.
By starting his own company, he financially put all his eggs in one basket.
Usage tips
Context through compounds
Because 'Karte' (card/map/menu/ticket) has so many meanings, the exact meaning is often clarified by a compound word. Pay attention to words like 'Kreditkarte' (credit card), 'Landkarte' (map), 'Speisekarte' (menu), or 'Eintrittskarte' (admission ticket).
EXAMPLE
Hast du die Eintrittskarten für das Museum schon online gekauft?
Have you already bought the admission tickets for the museum online?
Typical verbs
For cards made of plastic or paper, typical verbs are 'bezahlen' (to pay) (with a credit card), 'schreiben' (to write) (a postcard), or 'ziehen' (to draw) and 'spielen' (to play) (with playing cards).
EXAMPLE
Beim Kartenspielen hat er die beste Karte gezogen.
While playing cards, he drew the best card.
Use as a map
When 'Karte' means a map, the preposition 'auf' (on) is often used. Typical verbs are 'lesen' (to read), 'studieren' (to study), or 'nachsehen' (to check/look up).
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen auf der Karte nachsehen, wie wir zum Hotel kommen.
We have to check on the map how to get to the hotel.
In a restaurant
In a restaurant context, 'die Karte' almost always means the food or drinks menu. A typical question to the waiter is: 'Könnten wir bitte die Karte haben?' (Could we please have the menu?)
EXAMPLE
Ich habe etwas Leckeres auf der Karte entdeckt.
I discovered something delicious on the menu.
Fixed expression (success)
The idiom 'gute Karten haben' (to have good cards/chances) means that someone has good chances or prospects of success. The person who has the good chances is the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Mit ihrer Erfahrung hat sie für den Job sehr gute Karten.
With her experience, she has very good chances for the job.
Fixed expression (risk)
The idiom 'alles auf eine Karte setzen' (to put everything on one card) means that you take a high risk for a single possibility. It is often used in financial or professional contexts.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seinen Job gekündigt und mit seinen Ersparnissen alles auf eine Karte gesetzt.
He quit his job and put all his eggs in one basket with his savings.
Compare with
Karte vs Plan
plan
Plan and Karte can both help with geographical orientation. A Plan usually shows a place or a limited area in detail and often schematically, whereas a Karte typically represents a larger geographical area. Stadtplan is suitable for individual streets, while Karte is more appropriate for an entire region.
Karte
Auf der Karte suchen wir die Region, in der unser Urlaubsort liegt.
We are looking for the region where our vacation destination is located on the map.
Plan
Auf dem Stadtplan suchen wir die Straße, in der unser Hotel liegt.
We are looking for the street where our hotel is located on the city map.
In real life
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