01
die Kette
necklace
A piece of jewelry worn around the neck.
example
Sie hat zum Geburtstag eine wunderschöne Goldkette bekommen.
She got a beautiful gold necklace for her birthday.
die Kette
chain / necklace
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Kette' (chain/necklace) is often the base word in compound nouns that make the meaning more precise. This lets you immediately recognize what kind of 'Kette' is meant.
EXAMPLE
Am Hals trägt man eine Halskette.
You wear a necklace around your neck.
Context clue
The exact meaning of 'Kette' (chain/necklace) is almost always clear from the context. Pay attention to the verbs and adjectives: jewelry is 'getragen' (worn), a retail chain has 'Filialen' (branches), and a chain of events is 'ausgelöst' (triggered).
EXAMPLE
Sie trägt eine teure Kette aus Silber.
She is wearing an expensive silver necklace.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'jemanden an die Kette legen' means to severely restrict someone's freedom. It is used figuratively and refers to the function of a chain for holding something in place.
EXAMPLE
Mit den strengen Regeln fühlte er sich von seinen Eltern an die Kette gelegt.
With the strict rules, he felt chained down by his parents.
Typical collocations
In its abstract meaning, 'Kette' (chain) is often connected with negative events. Typical combinations are 'eine Kette von Fehlern' (a chain of mistakes), 'eine Kette von unglücklichen Zufällen' (a chain of unfortunate coincidences), or 'eine Kette von Problemen' (a chain of problems).
EXAMPLE
Eine Kette von unglücklichen Umständen führte zu dem Unfall.
A chain of unfortunate circumstances led to the accident.
Compare with
Kette vs Folge
consequence / episode
'die Folge' and 'die Kette' can both describe a series of events or things. 'die Folge' often emphasizes the sequence or the result of something: one event happens after another or arises from it. 'die Kette' more strongly emphasizes that several things are closely connected and that one leads to the next. Learners may confuse the words because both can mean a sequence. 'Folge' fits better for order or consequence, while 'Kette' fits better for many connected links or events.
Kette
Ein kleiner Fehler löste eine Kette von Problemen im Büro aus.
One small mistake triggered a chain of problems at the office.
Folge
Eine Folge des starken Regens war, dass viele Züge später kamen.
One consequence of the heavy rain was that many trains arrived later.
In real life
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