das Kartenspiel
card game
A game played with a set of playing cards according to specific rules.
EXAMPLE
Am Abend saßen wir zusammen und spielten ein lustiges Kartenspiel.
In the evening, we sat together and played a fun card game.
das Kartenspiel
card game / deck
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Meanings
das Kartenspiel
deck of cards
The set of playing cards itself that is needed for a game.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mir für den Urlaub ein neues Kartenspiel gekauft.
I bought myself a new deck of cards for vacation.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is composed of 'Karte' (card; plural: Karten) and 'Spiel' (game). So it literally describes a game that you play with cards.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns heute Abend ein Kartenspiel ausprobieren.
Let's try out a card game tonight.
Context clue
The verb in the sentence helps you understand which meaning is intended. The verb 'spielen' (to play) refers to the activity, while verbs like 'kaufen' (to buy), 'mischen' (to shuffle), or 'haben' (to have) refer to the deck of cards.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben bis spät in die Nacht Kartenspiele gespielt.
We played card games until late into the night.
Typical collocations
When referring to the activity, the phrases 'ein Kartenspiel machen' (to have/play a card game) or 'ein Kartenspiel spielen' (to play a card game) are often used. You can also 'gewinnen' (win) or 'verlieren' (lose) at a card game.
EXAMPLE
Wer macht beim nächsten Kartenspiel mit?
Who wants to join the next card game?
Compare with
Kartenspiel vs Deck
deck
Das Deck and das Kartenspiel can refer to cards used for playing. A Deck specifically means a matching set of cards, often one assembled by the player, while Kartenspiel more often means the game itself or a complete set for a traditional game. Deck usually fits collectible card games, while Kartenspiel fits playing together.
Kartenspiel
Für den Spieleabend habe ich ein Kartenspiel mit einem vollständigen Satz Karten gekauft.
I bought a card game with a complete set of cards for game night.
Deck
Für das Turnier habe ich mein Deck mit neuen Sammelkarten verbessert.
I improved my deck with new collectible cards for the tournament.
In real life
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