convention
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convention
A rule of social interaction or a behavior that most people in a group or culture accept as normal and correct.
Es ist eine gesellschaftliche Konvention, bei einer Begrüßung die Hand zu geben.
It is a social convention to shake hands when greeting someone.
Although 'Konvention' (convention) can mean a large gathering, like English 'convention', a very common meaning in German is an unwritten social rule. For English speakers, this second meaning is often unexpected.
Es ist eine Konvention, älteren Menschen im Bus einen Sitzplatz anzubieten.
It is a convention to offer older people a seat on the bus.
You can recognize the meaning from the context: if it is about behavior in society, it means a social rule. If it is about politics and law, it means a treaty. If it is about an event, it means a congress or convention.
Er brach mit allen gesellschaftlichen Konventionen seiner Zeit.
He broke with all the social conventions of his time.
In the sense of a social rule, 'Konvention' (convention) is often combined with verbs such as 'sich an etwas halten' (to follow something), 'etwas brechen' (to break something), or 'gegen etwas verstoßen' (to violate something). It also frequently appears with the adjective 'gesellschaftlich' (social).
Sich in einer Schlange anzustellen ist eine ungeschriebene Konvention.
Standing in line is an unwritten convention.
In the meaning 'völkerrechtlicher Vertrag' (treaty under international law), the word is often used with verbs such as 'unterzeichnen' (to sign), 'ratifizieren' (to ratify), or 'beitreten' (to accede to). The convention usually has an official name.
Mehr als 180 Staaten haben die Klimaschutz-Konvention unterzeichnet.
More than 180 countries have signed the climate protection convention.
When a gathering is meant, 'Konvention' (convention) is often used with verbs such as 'besuchen' (to attend), 'veranstalten' (to organize), or the expression 'auf eine Konvention gehen' (to go to a convention).
Wir fahren jedes Jahr auf die Spiele-Konvention in Essen.
We go to the games convention in Essen every year.
rule / period
'die Regel' and 'die Konvention' both say that a certain behavior is expected. A 'Regel' is often clearly formulated and can apply officially, for example at school, in traffic, or at work. A 'Konvention' is more like a habit within a group or culture. It is not always written down somewhere, but many people follow it. The words can be confused because both guide behavior. In practical terms, you can say: a rule says more strongly, 'You have to do this,' while a convention is more like, 'This is how people normally do it.'
In vielen Büros ist es eine Konvention, neue Kolleginnen zuerst zu begrüßen.
In many offices, it is a convention to greet new colleagues first.
Im Zug gilt die Regel, dass man den Fluchtweg frei halten muss.
On the train, the rule is that you must keep the escape route clear.