fasting / sober
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fasting
Describing the state of not having eaten or drunk anything, often before a medical examination or in the morning.
Für die Blutabnahme müssen Sie morgen früh nüchtern in die Praxis kommen.
For the blood test, you must come to the doctor's office fasting tomorrow morning.
The most common meanings are 'not having eaten' and 'not drunk'. The context makes the difference: in a medical setting (doctor, surgery), it means 'without eating'. In the context of parties, driving, or alcohol, it means 'not drunk'.
Vor der Operation müssen Sie acht Stunden nüchtern bleiben.
Before the operation, you must remain fasting for eight hours.
In a medical context, 'nüchtern' (fasting) is almost always used with the verbs 'sein' (to be) or 'bleiben' (to remain). You are fasting for an examination or must remain fasting for an operation.
Bitte denken Sie daran, für die Blutuntersuchung nüchtern zu sein.
Please remember to be fasting for the blood test.
To emphasize that someone has drunk absolutely no alcohol, you can use the word 'stocknüchtern' (stone-cold sober). It is a fixed and colloquial intensifier.
Er schwor der Polizei, er sei stocknüchtern gewesen.
He swore to the police that he had been stone-cold sober.
In the meaning of 'objective', 'nüchtern' (level-headed) is often used to describe a rational approach. Typical combinations are 'eine nüchterne Analyse' (a sober analysis), 'ein nüchterner Blick' (a level-headed view), or 'etwas nüchtern betrachten' (to look at something objectively).
Eine nüchterne Betrachtung der Fakten zeigt, dass wir den Plan ändern müssen.
A sober assessment of the facts shows that we need to change the plan.
When it is about rooms, buildings, or design, 'nüchtern' (plain) means simple and without decoration. It describes a minimalist style that is reduced to the essentials.
Die Architektur des neuen Museums ist bewusst nüchtern gehalten.
The architecture of the new museum is deliberately kept plain.
full
'voll' and 'nüchtern' are opposites here when it comes to alcohol. 'voll' is colloquial and means that someone is very drunk. 'nüchtern' means that someone is not under the influence of alcohol. Important: 'voll' also has other meanings, for example with a glass or a room. As the opposite of 'nüchtern', it only fits in the colloquial meaning 'drunk'.
Vor der Fahrt bleibt Maria nüchtern und trinkt keinen Alkohol.
Before driving, Maria stays sober and does not drink any alcohol.
Nach der Feier war er so voll, dass er ein Taxi nehmen musste.
After the party, he was so drunk that he had to take a taxi.