throat / jaws
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throat
The part of the body that connects the oral cavity and nasal cavity with the esophagus and windpipe; the pharynx.
Der Arzt schaute dem Patienten mit einem Spatel in den Rachen.
The doctor looked into the patient's throat with a spatula.
jaws
The wide-open mouth of a large animal or, figuratively, a dangerous, threatening maw or abyss.
Das Lamm wurde direkt aus dem Rachen des Wolfs gerettet.
The lamb was rescued directly from the jaws of the wolf.
to take something the wrong way
An idiom meaning to misunderstand a statement and take it as criticism or an insult.
Das war nur ein gut gemeinter Ratschlag, das solltest du nicht in den falschen Rachen bekommen.
That was just well-meant advice; you shouldn't take it the wrong way.
The meaning can be recognized from the context. In a medical or everyday context involving people, it refers to the throat and mouth area. In connection with large animals or as a metaphor for danger, it means the wide-open mouth or an abyss.
Ich habe seit gestern ein Kratzen im Rachen.
I've had a scratchy throat since yesterday.
Pay attention to the case with the preposition 'in' (in/into). Movement is expressed with the accusative ('in den Rachen schauen' — to look into the throat), while a state or location uses the dative ('eine Entzündung im Rachen haben' — to have inflammation in the throat).
Die Ärztin leuchtete mit einer kleinen Lampe in meinen Rachen.
The doctor shone a small light into my throat.
This meaning is often used figuratively or dramatically to describe great danger. Typical examples are 'der Rachen des Löwen' (the jaws of the lion) or metaphorically 'der Rachen der Hölle' (the jaws of hell).
Die Gazelle entkam nur knapp dem Rachen des Löwen.
The gazelle only narrowly escaped the jaws of the lion.
The idiom 'etwas in den falschen Rachen bekommen' (to take something the wrong way) has a fixed structure. The 'etwas' (something) stands for a remark or action that is perceived as negative or insulting, even though it may not have been meant that way.
Mein Witz war nicht böse gemeint, ich hoffe, du hast das nicht in den falschen Rachen bekommen.
My joke wasn't meant to be mean; I hope you didn't take it the wrong way.
neck / throat
Both words can be used for complaints in the throat area. Hals usually refers to the area in general, while Rachen more precisely names the space at the back behind the mouth and nose. For a general statement, Hals is usually used; for a precisely localized internal area, Rachen is more suitable.
Seit gestern tut mir der Rachen beim Schlucken weh.
The back of my throat has hurt when I swallow since yesterday.
Seit gestern tut mir der Hals beim Schlucken weh.
My throat has hurt when I swallow since yesterday.
