back seat
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back seat
The rear bench seat or the rear seats in a vehicle, especially in a car.
Die Kinder streiten sich immer darum, wer auf dem Rücksitz in der Mitte sitzen darf.
The children always argue about who gets to sit in the middle of the back seat.
The word is a clear compound of 'Rück-' (which means 'back' or 'rear') and 'Sitz' (seat). So the meaning is literal: the seat that is located in the back.
Bitte leg die Einkaufstüten auf den Rücksitz.
Please put the shopping bags on the back seat.
The literal meaning always refers to a vehicle. The figurative, passive meaning can be recognized from contexts involving organizations, politics, or careers, often in connection with verbs like 'sich zurückziehen' (to withdraw/step back).
Im Auto saß er auf dem Rücksitz.
In the car, he sat in the back seat.
The preposition 'auf' requires the accusative for direction and the dative for location. You sit down 'auf den Rücksitz' (onto the back seat; accusative), but you are already sitting 'auf dem Rücksitz' (on the back seat; dative).
Der Hund sprang sofort auf den Rücksitz.
The dog immediately jumped onto the back seat.
The figurative meaning is very often used in the fixed expression 'sich auf den Rücksitz zurückziehen' (to withdraw to the back seat). This means that someone deliberately takes on a less active role.
Nach der Geburt ihres Kindes hat sie sich beruflich bewusst auf den Rücksitz zurückgezogen.
After the birth of her child, she deliberately took a back seat professionally.
rear seat / stock / background
'der Fond' and 'der Rücksitz' can both refer to the rear area in a car. 'der Rücksitz' is much more common in everyday language and means the rear bench seat or the rear seats. 'der Fond' sounds more formal or elevated and refers more to the whole rear seating area, for example in a taxi or a large car. Learners may confuse the words because both are in the back of a car. In normal conversation, 'Rücksitz' is usually more natural; 'Fond' fits better in more precise or somewhat more formal descriptions.
Auf dem Rücksitz liegt noch meine Jacke von gestern.
My jacket from yesterday is still lying on the back seat.
Im Fond des Wagens sitzt der Gast bequem und hat viel Platz.
The guest sits comfortably in the rear of the car and has plenty of space.