klug
clever
Intelligent and quick to understand; able to think, learn, and solve problems well.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist eine sehr kluge Schülerin mit ausgezeichneten Noten.
She is a very clever student with excellent grades.
klug
clever / wise
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Meanings
klug
wise
Based on reason and careful thought; wise and forward-looking with regard to an action or decision.
EXAMPLE
Es war eine kluge Entscheidung, das Geld zu sparen, anstatt es auszugeben.
It was a wise decision to save the money instead of spending it.
aus etwas nicht klug werden
to make no sense of something
A fixed expression meaning that one cannot understand or figure out something or someone.
EXAMPLE
Aus dieser komplizierten Anleitung werde ich einfach nicht klug.
I simply can't make any sense of these complicated instructions.
Usage tips
Context clue
When 'klug' (clever) refers to a person, it means intelligent. When it refers to an action, an idea, or a decision, it means sensible or wise.
EXAMPLE
Mein Großvater ist ein sehr kluger Mann.
My grandfather is a very clever man.
Sentence structure and usage
A very common construction is 'es ist klug, etwas zu tun' (it is wise to do something). It is used to evaluate an action as sensible.
EXAMPLE
Es ist klug, sich vor einer langen Reise gut zu informieren.
It is wise to get well informed before a long trip.
Fixed expression
The expression 'aus jemandem/etwas nicht klug werden' means that one cannot understand a person or thing. It is always formed with the preposition 'aus' and the dative.
EXAMPLE
Ich lese den Text schon zum dritten Mal, aber ich werde daraus einfach nicht klug.
I'm reading the text for the third time, but I still simply can't make sense of it.
Compare with
klug vs hell
bright / light
Hell and klug can both describe an intelligent person. Hell is colloquial and is especially used in expressions such as „ein heller Kopf“ (a bright mind). Klug is the generally applicable choice when expressing intelligence or good problem-solving skills neutrally.
klug
Lena ist klug und löst neue Aufgaben schnell.
Lena is clever and solves new tasks quickly.
hell
Lena ist ein heller Kopf und versteht neue Aufgaben schnell.
Lena is a bright mind and understands new tasks quickly.
In real life
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