precarious
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precarious
A situation that is insecure, unstable, or difficult, especially in relation to employment or finances.
Viele junge Akademiker finden nach dem Studium nur prekäre Anstellungen mit befristeten Verträgen.
After graduating, many young academics only find precarious jobs with fixed-term contracts.
delicate
A sensitive or unpleasant matter that requires tact and where it is easy to make mistakes.
Das war eine prekäre Frage, auf die es keine einfache und richtige Antwort gab.
That was a delicate question for which there was no simple and correct answer.
'Prekär' (precarious) resembles the English 'precarious', but it is used differently. In German, it almost always describes an insecure social or financial situation, not an immediate physical danger.
Nach dem Jobverlust war seine finanzielle Situation sehr prekär.
After losing his job, his financial situation was very precarious.
'Prekär' (precarious) is a word used in elevated language. You often find it in newspaper articles, academic texts, and political discussions.
Der Bericht beschreibt die prekären Lebensbedingungen in der Region.
The report describes the precarious living conditions in the region.
In connection with work and finances, typical combinations are 'prekäre Arbeitsverhältnisse' (precarious working conditions), 'prekäre Beschäftigung' (precarious employment), and 'eine prekäre finanzielle Lage' (a precarious financial situation).
Immer mehr Menschen arbeiten in prekären Beschäftigungsverhältnissen ohne feste Absicherung.
More and more people are working in precarious employment relationships without secure protection.
When a sensitive matter is meant, 'prekär' (delicate) is often used with nouns such as 'Situation' (situation), 'Lage' (situation), or 'Frage' (question).
Der Diplomat befand sich in einer äußerst prekären Situation.
The diplomat found himself in an extremely delicate situation.
critical
When describing a difficult situation, „kritisch“ and „prekär“ can both fit. „Kritisch“ emphasizes a serious or dangerous escalation, while „prekär“ highlights the uncertainty and instability of the situation. Choose „kritisch“ when the situation may worsen and „prekär“ when it is insecure or persistently unstable.
Die finanzielle Lage des Vereins blieb prekär, weil er keine sicheren Einnahmen hatte.
The club's financial situation remained precarious because it had no reliable income.
Die finanzielle Lage des Vereins wurde kritisch, nachdem mehrere wichtige Spenden ausblieben.
The club's financial situation became critical after several important donations failed to come in.
