01
das Kino
cinema / movie theater
A building or auditorium where films are shown publicly on a screen.
example
Das neue Kino in der Innenstadt hat zehn Säle.
The new cinema downtown has ten theaters.
das Kino
cinema
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word origin
The word 'Kino' (cinema) is a shortened form of the old word 'Kinematograph'. This term comes from Greek and means 'movement writer'. However, knowing the origin is no longer necessary for modern usage.
EXAMPLE
Früher nannte man das Kino auch Lichtspielhaus.
In the past, a cinema was also called a 'Lichtspielhaus'.
Movement or location?
Pay attention to the difference between 'ins Kino' (accusative) for movement to a place and 'im Kino' (dative) for being at a place. This rule applies to many expressions of place.
EXAMPLE
Wir gehen heute Abend ins Kino.
We are going to the cinema tonight.
Typical collocations
The activity is usually expressed with the verb 'gehen' (to go). Typical phrases are 'ins Kino gehen' (to go to the cinema), 'jemanden ins Kino einladen' (to invite someone to the cinema), or 'sich im Kino treffen' (to meet at the cinema).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sie zu einem Date ins Kino eingeladen.
He invited her to the cinema for a date.
Context clue
When 'Kino' (cinema) means the art form or film industry, it often appears with an adjective describing a nationality, an era, or a style. The context is then usually cultural or historical.
EXAMPLE
Das italienische Kino der Nachkriegszeit ist weltberühmt.
Italian cinema of the postwar period is world-famous.
Compare with
Kino vs Film
film
'der Film' and 'das Kino' both belong to the world of moving images. 'der Film' is the work itself, meaning the story or the images that you watch. 'das Kino' is usually the place where you see films, or the activity of going there. Sometimes 'Kino' also means cinema as an art form in general. The words can be confused because people often talk about both together. In practical terms: you watch a film, but you go to the cinema.
Kino
Nach der Arbeit geht die Familie ins Kino.
After work, the family goes to the cinema.
Film
Der Film beginnt ruhig, wird aber nach ein paar Minuten sehr spannend.
The film starts quietly, but after a few minutes it becomes very exciting.
In real life
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