machinery
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machinery
A large, complex, and often impersonal system or organization, such as a bureaucracy, that functions in a rigid and mechanical way.
Es dauert ewig, bis ein Antrag durch die Maschinerie der Verwaltung genehmigt wird.
It takes forever for an application to be approved through the machinery of the administration.
The word 'Maschinerie' (machinery) is derived from 'Maschine' (machine). The ending '-erie' often denotes a totality or a system of something, here meaning the totality of machines.
Die gesamte Maschinerie der Fabrik muss modernisiert werden.
All the machinery in the factory needs to be modernized.
The meaning becomes clear from the context. If people are talking about factories or facilities, real machines are meant. In connection with words like 'Bürokratie' (bureaucracy), 'Staat' (state), or 'Justiz' (justice system), it refers to the figurative, impersonal system.
Die schwere Maschinerie wurde per Kran auf die Baustelle gehoben.
The heavy machinery was lifted onto the construction site by crane.
In the figurative sense, 'Maschinerie' (machinery) is often used with a genitive that describes the system: 'die Maschinerie der Verwaltung' (the machinery of the administration), 'die Maschinerie des Staates' (the machinery of the state), or 'die Maschinerie der Partei' (the machinery of the party).
Sein Antrag ging in der Maschinerie der Bürokratie verloren.
His application got lost in the machinery of bureaucracy.
In the literal meaning, 'Maschinerie' (machinery) is a collective term. It is singular, but describes the totality of all machines in a particular area.
Die alte Maschinerie in der Werkstatt war laut und gefährlich.
The old machinery in the workshop was loud and dangerous.
system
'das System' and 'die Maschinerie' can both describe a large, complex organization or structure. 'System' is more neutral and more general. It mainly says that several parts function together. 'Maschinerie' sounds stronger, more impersonal, and often critical. It is used when processes seem rigid, hard to stop, or automatic, for example in bureaucracy. Learners may confuse the words because both refer to something complex. 'System' works for many ordered structures, while 'Maschinerie' is more for large, cold processes that feel mechanical.
Nach dem Antrag setzte sich die ganze Maschinerie der Verwaltung in Bewegung.
After the application was submitted, the whole machinery of the administration was set in motion.
Bei der Arbeit nutzen wir ein System, damit keine Aufgabe vergessen wird.
At work, we use a system so that no task is forgotten.