to beat / to fight / to play cards
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to beat / knock
Colloquial for hitting, beating, or knocking. It describes a strong, often loud striking motion.
Früher hat man die Teppiche im Hof gekloppt, um sie zu reinigen.
In the past, people used to beat the carpets in the courtyard to clean them.
to fight
Colloquial for arguing or having a physical confrontation; to get into a fight.
Die Jungs haben sich nach der Schule wegen einer Nichtigkeit gekloppt.
The boys got into a fight after school over nothing.
to play cards
Colloquial for playing cards, especially in certain card games such as Skat.
Wollen wir heute Abend eine Runde Skat kloppen?
Do we want to play a round of Skat tonight?
The verb 'kloppen' clearly belongs to colloquial language in all of its meanings. It should be avoided in formal or written contexts.
Lass uns nicht streiten, wir wollen uns doch nicht kloppen.
Let's not argue; we don't want to get into a fight.
In the meaning of 'pochen' (to knock) or 'hauen' (to hit), 'kloppen' is often used with the preposition 'an' and the dative to name the target of the blow.
Jemand kloppte laut an die Tür.
Someone knocked loudly on the door.
In the meaning of 'sich prügeln' (to fight), the verb is always used reflexively: 'sich kloppen' (to fight). The other person is often named with the preposition 'mit' (with).
Die beiden haben sich gestern auf dem Schulhof gekloppt.
The two of them got into a fight yesterday in the schoolyard.
In the context of card games, 'kloppen' is used in fixed expressions. Typical phrases are 'Karten kloppen' (to play cards) or 'eine Runde Skat kloppen' (to play a round of Skat).
Wir haben bis spät in die Nacht Karten gekloppt.
We played cards until late into the night.
to knock / beat / tap
Both words can refer to forceful knocking on a door. „Klopfen“ is the usual neutral form, while „kloppen“ sounds colloquial and suggests especially forceful or loud knocking. In a neutral situation, „klopfen“ is usually the better choice; in casual speech, „kloppen“ can also be used.
Er kloppte laut an die Tür, weil ihn drinnen niemand hörte.
He pounded loudly on the door because no one inside could hear him.
Der Besucher klopfte höflich an die Tür und wartete.
The visitor knocked politely on the door and waited.
