01
rasieren
to shave
To remove body hair, especially beard hair, directly at the surface of the skin using a sharp blade or an electric device.
example
Er rasiert sich jeden Morgen gründlich.
He shaves thoroughly every morning.
rasieren
to shave / crush / rip off
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
The context makes the meaning clear. If it is about personal grooming, the literal meaning is intended. In the context of a competition or game, it means 'besiegen' (to defeat). If it is about money or business, it often means 'betrügen' (to cheat).
EXAMPLE
Ich muss mich noch schnell rasieren, bevor wir gehen.
I still have to shave quickly before we go.
Reflexive use
In its main meaning, 'rasieren' (to shave) is very often used reflexively: 'sich rasieren' (to shave oneself). If a specific body part is named, it appears in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Er rasiert sich jeden Morgen vor dem Spiegel.
He shaves in front of the mirror every morning.
Register: youth slang
The meaning 'jemanden besiegen' (to defeat someone) is colloquial and belongs especially to youth slang. It is often used in the context of video games, sports, or competitions.
EXAMPLE
Im Online-Match hat sie ihren Gegner total rasiert.
In the online match, she totally crushed her opponent.
Register: colloquial
The meaning 'jemanden betrügen' (to cheat someone) is also colloquial. It is often used in the passive ('rasiert werden' — to get ripped off) to express that someone lost money or was taken advantage of.
EXAMPLE
Beim Autokauf wurde er komplett rasiert und hat viel zu viel bezahlt.
He got completely ripped off when buying the car and paid far too much.
Compare with
rasieren vs schlagen
to hit / beat
'schlagen' and 'rasieren' can both mean that you defeat an opponent. In this meaning, 'schlagen' is the normal word for sports, games, or competitions. 'rasieren' is very colloquial and means that the opponent is defeated especially clearly and overwhelmingly. Learners may confuse the words because both can fit in a game. If you want to speak neutrally, use 'schlagen'. 'Rasieren' fits more in casual conversations and sounds stronger.
rasieren
Im Finale rasierte das Team den Gegner mit 6:0.
In the final, the team crushed their opponent 6–0.
schlagen
Anton schlug seinen Freund beim Schach nach nur zwanzig Minuten.
Anton beat his friend at chess after only twenty minutes.
In real life
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