criticism / review
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criticism
The expression of a negative opinion or a reprimand about someone or something. It points out mistakes or weaknesses.
Nach seiner Rede erntete der Politiker viel Kritik.
After his speech, the politician received a lot of criticism.
'Die Kritik' means 'criticism' or 'review'. A person who criticizes is 'der Kritiker' (male critic) or 'die Kritikerin' (female critic). Don't confuse 'Kritik' with the English word 'critic' (a person).
Der Autor hat auf die Kritik an seinem Buch geantwortet.
The author responded to the criticism of his book.
'Die Kritik' is the noun corresponding to the verb 'kritisieren' (to criticize) and the adjective 'kritisch' (critical). All three words refer to judging or evaluating something.
Es ist nicht immer einfach, eine Person konstruktiv zu kritisieren.
It is not always easy to criticize a person constructively.
When saying what one is criticizing, German uses the preposition 'an' with the dative. A very common phrase is 'Kritik an etwas üben' (to criticize something / to level criticism at something).
Die Opposition übte scharfe Kritik an der Regierung.
The opposition leveled sharp criticism at the government.
To describe the kind of negative statement, 'Kritik' is often combined with adjectives such as 'scharf' (sharp), 'heftig' (strong), 'berechtigt' (justified), or 'unberechtigt' (unjustified). A positive form is 'konstruktive Kritik' (constructive criticism).
Der Plan stieß auf heftige Kritik von den Anwohnern.
The plan met with strong criticism from the residents.
In the context of art and media (film, books, theater, music), 'Kritik' means a review or critique. It can be positive ('lobende Kritik' = praising review) or negative ('vernichtende Kritik' = devastating review).
Ich lese immer erst die Kritiken, bevor ich mir einen Film ansehe.
I always read the reviews first before I watch a film.
'Die Kritik' can also refer to the whole body of professional critics. In this case, it is used like a collective term for a group of people, often with the preposition 'bei'.
Der neue Roman kam bei der Kritik sehr gut an.
The new novel was very well received by the critics.
attack
'Kritik' and 'Angriff' can both refer to negative words about someone or something. 'Kritik' points out mistakes or weaknesses and can be meant objectively. An 'Angriff' is much harsher: it feels hostile and is often meant to hurt the other person or make them look bad. The words can be confused because harsh criticism can feel like an attack. If someone calmly says what is not good, 'Kritik' fits better. If the words are very aggressive or personal, 'Angriff' is more precise.
Die Kritik der Kundin war klar, aber sie blieb freundlich.
The customer's criticism was clear, but she remained friendly.
Sein Kommentar war kein normaler Hinweis mehr, sondern ein persönlicher Angriff.
His comment was no longer just a normal suggestion, but a personal attack.