die Pflege
care
The care and support of people who need help, such as the sick, elderly people, or children.
EXAMPLE
Die Pflege seiner kranken Mutter nimmt viel Zeit in Anspruch.
Caring for his sick mother takes up a lot of time.
die Pflege
care
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Meanings
die Pflege
maintenance
The upkeep and maintenance of objects, plants, or places in order to keep them in good condition.
EXAMPLE
Die richtige Pflege von Lederschuhen verlängert deren Haltbarkeit.
Proper care of leather shoes extends their lifespan.
die Pflege
personal care
Measures for cleaning and keeping one's own body healthy, often also referred to as body care.
EXAMPLE
Zur täglichen Pflege gehören bei ihr Duschen und Eincremen.
For her, daily personal care includes showering and putting on lotion.
Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'die Pflege' (care) is derived directly from the verb 'pflegen' (to care for / to maintain). If you know the verb, you can easily infer the meaning of the noun: 'pflegen' means to look after someone or something, and 'die Pflege' is the action itself.
EXAMPLE
Er pflegt seine Eltern zu Hause.
He cares for his parents at home.
Productive compounds
'Pflege' (care) is a very productive word and forms many new nouns. The first part of the word describes what is being cared for, e.g. 'Altenpflege' (care of elderly people) or 'Gartenpflege' (garden maintenance).
EXAMPLE
Sie arbeitet in der Krankenpflege.
She works in nursing care.
Typical collocations
When it comes to caring for people, 'Pflege' (care) is often combined with certain verbs and adjectives. Common phrases are 'Pflege brauchen' (to need care), 'auf Pflege angewiesen sein' (to be dependent on care), or 'häusliche Pflege' (home care).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Unfall war er mehrere Wochen auf Pflege angewiesen.
After the accident, he was dependent on care for several weeks.
Context clue
When 'Pflege' (care) is used in connection with objects, places, or abstract things like data, it means 'Instandhaltung' (upkeep) or 'Wartung' (maintenance). Pay attention to the combination with 'von' (of), for example 'die Pflege von Denkmälern' (the upkeep of monuments).
EXAMPLE
Die Pflege des Parks kostet die Stadt jedes Jahr viel Geld.
The maintenance of the park costs the city a lot of money every year.
Compare with
Pflege vs Versorgung
supply / care
Pflege and Versorgung can both refer to helping sick, elderly, or dependent people. Pflege emphasizes ongoing personal care and nursing work, while Versorgung focuses more on providing what is currently needed. Pflege is suitable for regular care, while Versorgung may be more appropriate for specific necessary assistance.
Pflege
Die Pflege der alten Frau umfasst jeden Morgen das Waschen, Anziehen und gemeinsame Frühstücken.
The elderly woman's care includes washing, getting dressed, and having breakfast together every morning.
Versorgung
Die Versorgung der alten Frau umfasst heute vor allem ihre Medikamente und eine warme Mahlzeit.
Today, the elderly woman's care mainly consists of her medication and a hot meal.
In real life
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