lowland
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lowland
An extensive, flat, low-lying area, often near rivers or coasts.
In der feuchten Niederung des Amazonasgebiets gibt es eine riesige Artenvielfalt.
In the humid lowlands of the Amazon region, there is enormous biodiversity.
depths
In figurative and elevated usage: the simple, banal, or even negative aspects of life or of human character.
Er fühlte sich gefangen in den Niederungen des Alltags.
He felt trapped in the depths of everyday life.
The word 'Niederung' is derived from the adjective 'nieder', which means 'low' or 'down below'. So a Niederung (lowland) is literally low-lying land.
Das Dorf liegt geschützt in einer kleinen Niederung.
The village lies protected in a small lowland area.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that it is connected with abstract terms like 'Alltag' (everyday life), 'Politik' (politics), or 'menschliche Existenz' (human existence). The literal meaning, by contrast, is used in geographical contexts.
Er wollte den Niederungen der Bürokratie entfliehen.
He wanted to escape the depths of bureaucracy.
The figurative meaning of 'Niederung' (depths) for banal or negative aspects of life belongs to elevated written language. It is rarely used in everyday conversation.
In seinem Roman beschreibt er die Niederungen der menschlichen Seele.
In his novel, he describes the depths of the human soul.
In the figurative meaning, fixed combinations are often found. Especially common are 'die Niederungen des Alltags' (the depths of everyday life) or 'die Niederungen der Politik' (the depths of politics).
Nach dem Urlaub holten ihn die Niederungen des Alltags schnell wieder ein.
After the vacation, the depths of everyday life quickly caught up with him again.
