to look up / to hit back
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to look up
To search for and find information in a reference work such as a dictionary, an encyclopedia, or a database.
Wenn du die genaue Definition wissen willst, musst du das Wort im Duden nachschlagen.
If you want to know the exact definition, you have to look up the word in the Duden.
to hit back
To return a blow that one has received; to strike back.
Obwohl er provoziert wurde, hat er nicht nachgeschlagen.
Although he was provoked, he did not hit back.
'Nachschlagen' (to look up / to hit back) is a separable verb. The prefix 'nach-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Ich schlage schnell die Adresse nach.
I'll quickly look up the address.
When you are searching for information, the verb often follows the pattern: 'etwas (Akkusativ) in etwas (Dativ) nachschlagen' (to look something up in something). The accusative names the information, and the dative names the source.
Ich muss die Öffnungszeiten im Internet nachschlagen.
I have to look up the opening hours online.
Typically, you look up information. Common objects are: 'ein Wort' (a word), 'eine Definition' (a definition), 'eine Adresse' (an address), 'eine Telefonnummer' (a telephone number), or 'eine Information' (a piece of information). Sources are often 'das Wörterbuch' (the dictionary), 'das Lexikon' (the encyclopedia/reference book), or 'das Internet' (the internet).
Kannst du die Telefonnummer für mich im Verzeichnis nachschlagen?
Can you look up the telephone number for me in the directory?
The meaning 'zurückschlagen' (to hit back) is rare and becomes clear through the context of a physical fight. The most common meaning, 'Informationen suchen' (to search for information), can be recognized by the fact that there is an object (the information) and often a source (e.g. 'im Buch' (in the book)).
Er schlug die Bedeutung des Wortes im Lexikon nach.
He looked up the meaning of the word in the encyclopedia.
to look up / read up
Both words are suitable when you want to check a specific piece of information in a document or reference work. Nachschlagen emphasizes deliberately searching for and finding something, while nachlesen highlights reading or checking the content you have found again. Use nachschlagen for the search and nachlesen for the content.
Ich schlage das unbekannte Wort im Wörterbuch nach, um seine Bedeutung zu finden.
I am looking up the unfamiliar word in the dictionary to find its meaning.
Ich lese die Erklärung im Wörterbuch noch einmal nach, weil ich sie nicht ganz verstanden habe.
I am reading the explanation in the dictionary again because I did not fully understand it.
