biological / physical
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biological
Related by blood; biological. It is used to indicate direct biological descent, as opposed to an adoptive or step-relationship.
Er wurde von seinen Adoptiveltern aufgezogen und hat seine leiblichen Eltern nie kennengelernt.
He was raised by his adoptive parents and never met his biological parents.
The adjective 'leiblich' (biological/physical) is derived from the old word 'der Leib' (body). Both meanings therefore relate to the body: either biologically (descent) or physically (well-being).
Die Sorge um den eigenen Leib ist ein menschliches Grundbedürfnis.
Concern for one's own body is a basic human need.
In the meaning 'biologisch' (biological), 'leiblich' is almost always combined with family members: leibliche Eltern (biological parents), leibliche Mutter (biological mother), leiblicher Vater (biological father), or leibliche Kinder (biological children).
Sie sucht nach ihrem leiblichen Vater, den sie nie getroffen hat.
She is looking for her biological father, whom she has never met.
The word 'leiblich' (biological) is often used in a formal or official context to clearly indicate biological kinship.
Im Testament wurde nur sein leiblicher Sohn als Erbe genannt.
In the will, only his biological son was named as heir.
The meaning 'körperlich' (physical) is found almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'für das leibliche Wohl sorgen' (to provide for people's physical well-being), which means to provide good food and drink.
Die Gastgeber haben mit einem großen Buffet für das leibliche Wohl gesorgt.
The hosts provided for everyone's physical well-being with a large buffet.
physical
'körperlich' and 'leiblich' can both refer to the body. In this meaning, they are very similar, but 'körperlich' is much more common in everyday language, for example when talking about pain, work, or an examination. 'leiblich' often sounds more elevated or appears in fixed expressions, especially in 'das leibliche Wohl' (food and drink / physical well-being). In addition, 'leiblich' has another important meaning: it can mean biologically related, as in 'leibliche Mutter' (biological mother). That is why the words can be confused. For the body in general, 'körperlich' is usually the safer choice.
Beim Sommerfest kümmert sich Hannes um das leibliche Wohl der Gäste.
At the summer festival, Hannes takes care of the guests' food and drink.
Nach der Operation darfst du dich körperlich noch nicht anstrengen.
After the operation, you must not physically exert yourself yet.