parable / parabola
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parable
A short, instructive story that illustrates a moral or religious truth through a comparison from another area of life.
Die Parabel vom barmherzigen Samariter ist eine der bekanntesten Geschichten aus der Bibel.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the best-known stories from the Bible.
You can clearly recognize the meaning of 'Parabel' (parable / parabola) from the context. If it is about literature, religion, or a moral, it refers to the instructive story. If it is about mathematics, physics, or geometry, it refers to the mathematical curve.
Im Deutschunterricht analysierten wir eine Parabel von Kafka.
In German class, we analyzed a parable by Kafka.
In the literary sense, 'Parabel' (parable) is often used with verbs such as 'erzählen' (to tell), 'interpretieren' (to interpret), or 'deuten' (to interpret / to read). Common adjectives are 'biblisch' (biblical) or 'lehrreich' (instructive).
Der Lehrer bat uns, die Moral der Parabel zu erklären.
The teacher asked us to explain the moral of the parable.
In a mathematical context, 'Parabel' (parabola) is often combined with verbs such as 'zeichnen' (to draw) or 'berechnen' (to calculate). Typical nouns are 'Funktion' (function), 'Graph' (graph), 'Kurve' (curve), or 'Scheitelpunkt' (vertex).
Wir müssen den Graphen der Funktion als Parabel zeichnen.
We have to draw the graph of the function as a parabola.
short story
'die Kurzgeschichte' and 'die Parabel' can both be short literary narratives. They can be confused because both are brief and are often read in class. A short story usually tells a concrete situation, often with an open ending. A parable also tells a story, but it is meant to show a general moral or religious truth through a comparison. If the lesson or figurative meaning is central, 'Parabel' is more precise. If it is mainly about a short scene from life, 'Kurzgeschichte' fits better.
Die Parabel zeigt durch eine einfache Alltagssituation, warum Hilfsbereitschaft wichtig ist.
Through a simple everyday situation, the parable shows why helpfulness is important.
Der Schluss der Kurzgeschichte bleibt offen, deshalb diskutiert die Klasse lange darüber.
The ending of the short story is left open, so the class discusses it for a long time.