to give in / to yield
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to give in
To give up one's resistance and agree to another person's wishes or pressure.
Nach einer langen Diskussion hat sie schließlich nachgegeben und dem Plan zugestimmt.
After a long discussion, she finally gave in and agreed to the plan.
to yield
To lose firmness or stability under pressure or weight; to become softer or less stable.
Der nasse Boden gab unter seinen Füßen nach.
The wet ground yielded under his feet.
to be in no way inferior
To be just as good as someone or something else in a particular quality or ability; to be equal to them.
In puncto Geschwindigkeit gibt das neue Modell seinem Vorgänger in nichts nach.
In terms of speed, the new model is in no way inferior to its predecessor.
'Nachgeben' (to give in/to yield) is a separable verb. The prefix 'nach-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Der klügere gibt nach.
The wiser person gives in.
The verb consists of the prefix 'nach-' and the base verb 'geben' (to give). Here, the prefix reinforces the idea of following another person's will or yielding to pressure.
Eltern sollten nicht bei jeder Kleinigkeit sofort nachgeben.
Parents should not give in immediately over every little thing.
When you give in to a person or a thing, that person or thing is in the dative. You ask: 'Wem oder was gebe ich nach?' (To whom or what am I giving in?)
Er hat dem Druck der Öffentlichkeit nachgegeben.
He gave in to public pressure.
This meaning is almost always used for physical materials or structures. The subject is often something inanimate, such as the ground, the ice, a board, or a dam.
Das alte Regalbrett gab unter dem Gewicht der Bücher nach.
The old shelf board yielded under the weight of the books.
This meaning occurs only in the fixed expression 'jemandem/etwas in nichts nachgeben' (to be in no way inferior to someone/something). It expresses that two things are equal in quality.
In Sachen Eleganz gibt sie ihrer Schwester in nichts nach.
In matters of elegance, she is in no way inferior to her sister.
to result / surrender
Both verbs can describe a reaction to pressure or resistance. Someone who gives in usually yields and agrees to the other person's wishes; someone who surrenders gives up more completely and submits to the opposing side. „Nachgeben“ is therefore more suitable for a compromise, while „sich ergeben“ refers to complete capitulation.
Nach der langen Diskussion gab die Gruppe den Forderungen der Nachbarn nach.
After the long discussion, the group gave in to the neighbors' demands.
Nach der langen Belagerung ergab sich die Gruppe den Soldaten.
After the long siege, the group surrendered to the soldiers.
