box / crate
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box / crate
A usually rectangular container made of wood, cardboard, or plastic for storing or transporting objects.
Im Keller stehen noch mehrere Kisten mit alten Büchern vom Umzug.
There are still several boxes of old books from the move in the basement.
'Kiste' (box/crate) has several colloquial meanings besides the literal meaning 'Behälter' (container). The context makes clear what is meant: Are people talking about a move, an old car, or a computer?
Hilf mir mal, diese schwere Kiste in den Keller zu tragen.
Help me carry this heavy box down to the basement.
In its literal meaning, 'Kiste' is often used with drinks. Typical collocations are 'eine Kiste Bier' (a crate of beer), 'eine Kiste Wasser' (a crate of water), or 'eine Kiste Wein' (a crate of wine).
Für die Party haben wir drei Kisten Limonade gekauft.
We bought three crates of lemonade for the party.
As a colloquial term for a car, 'Kiste' usually has a negative or derogatory meaning. It often describes an old, noisy, or unreliable vehicle.
Ich hoffe, meine alte Kiste schafft die Fahrt in den Urlaub noch.
I hope my old car still manages the trip on vacation.
The expression 'eine klare Kiste' (a clear-cut thing) is a fixed phrase. It means that a situation is clear and the outcome is predictable or already decided.
Der Sieg war am Ende eine ganz klare Kiste für die Heimmannschaft.
In the end, the victory was a completely clear-cut thing for the home team.
thing / matter
'Sache' and 'Kiste' can both mean a matter or situation in certain fixed or colloquial expressions. 'Sache' is the normal, neutral word. 'Kiste' only has this meaning in certain phrases, for example 'eine klare Kiste' (a clear-cut thing). Then it means: the matter is clear or uncomplicated. Learners can confuse the words because 'Kiste' sometimes does not mean the container. But you cannot simply use 'Kiste' everywhere for 'Sache'. If you are unsure, 'Sache' is usually the safe choice.
Für Alina ist die Entscheidung eine klare Kiste: Sie nimmt den neuen Computer.
For Alina, the decision is clear-cut: she is taking the new computer.
Wenn der Zug ausfällt, wird die Sache mit der Reise schwierig.
If the train is canceled, the matter of the trip becomes difficult.