krankschreiben
to write off sick
As a doctor, to issue an official certificate confirming that a person is unable to work due to illness.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt hat mich für eine Woche krankgeschrieben.
The doctor wrote me off sick for a week.
krankschreiben
to write off sick
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Meanings
sich krankschreiben lassen
to get signed off sick
To receive a certificate of incapacity for work from a doctor. This expression describes the action from the patient's perspective.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du so stark erkältet bist, solltest du zum Arzt gehen und dich krankschreiben lassen.
If you have such a bad cold, you should go to the doctor and get signed off sick.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Krankschreiben' (to write off sick) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'krank' comes at the end of the sentence. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt schreibt mich eine Woche krank.
The doctor writes me off sick for a week.
Structure of the verb
The verb is made up of the adjective 'krank' (sick) and the verb 'schreiben' (to write). It literally means that a doctor confirms in writing that someone is sick and therefore unable to work.
EXAMPLE
Eine Krankschreibung bestätigt, dass ein Arzt dich krankgeschrieben hat.
A sick note confirms that a doctor has written you off sick.
Patient's perspective
From the patient's perspective, you use the fixed expression 'sich krankschreiben lassen' (to get signed off sick). The person receiving the certificate becomes the subject of the sentence in this passive-like construction.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du Fieber hast, solltest du dich krankschreiben lassen.
If you have a fever, you should get signed off sick.
Doctor's perspective
When the doctor is the active person, the structure is: 'jemanden (Akkusativ) für einen Zeitraum krankschreiben' (to write someone off sick for a period of time). The object is the person who receives the certificate.
EXAMPLE
Die Ärztin hat die Patientin wegen der Grippe für fünf Tage krankgeschrieben.
The doctor wrote the patient off sick for five days because of the flu.
Compare with
krankschreiben vs bescheinigen
to certify / attest
Both words can refer to officially certifying that someone is unable to work because of illness. Bescheinigen focuses on the confirmed fact or the certificate. Krankschreiben, by contrast, takes the affected person as its object and refers to the doctor's action of officially declaring that person unfit for work.
krankschreiben
Die Ärztin schrieb ihn wegen seiner Grippe für diese Woche krank.
The doctor wrote him off sick for this week because of his flu.
bescheinigen
Die Ärztin bescheinigte ihm schriftlich, dass er diese Woche arbeitsunfähig ist.
The doctor gave him written certification that he was unable to work this week.
In real life
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