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die Ruine
ruin
The remains of a destroyed, collapsed, or dilapidated structure, such as a castle, palace, or house.
example
Wir besichtigten die alte Burgruine auf dem Hügel.
We visited the old castle ruin on the hill.
die Ruine
ruin
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Die Ruine' (the ruin) belongs to the word family of the verb 'ruinieren' (to ruin). When something is 'ruiniert' (ruined), it is destroyed or turned into a 'Ruine' (ruin).
EXAMPLE
Der Skandal hat seinen Ruf vollständig ruiniert.
The scandal completely ruined his reputation.
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning of 'Ruine' (ruin) from the context. Compound words like 'Burgruine' (castle ruin) or 'Klosterruine' (monastery ruin) refer to buildings. Adjectives like 'menschlich' (human) or 'finanziell' (financial) point to the figurative meaning for a person or a company.
EXAMPLE
Die Schlossruine ist ein beliebtes Ausflugsziel.
The palace ruin is a popular destination for day trips.
Typical collocations
In connection with buildings, 'Ruine' (ruin) is often used with verbs like 'besichtigen' (to visit/tour) or 'besuchen' (to visit). A common phrase is also 'in Ruinen liegen' (to lie in ruins), which means that something is completely destroyed.
EXAMPLE
Im Urlaub haben wir eine alte römische Ruine besichtigt.
On vacation, we visited an old Roman ruin.
Metaphorical use
Describing a person as a 'Ruine' (wreck) is a strong metaphor. It is used to express that someone has been completely worn down physically or emotionally by illness, misfortune, or emotional stress.
EXAMPLE
Die lange Krankheit hatte ihn in eine menschliche Ruine verwandelt.
The long illness had turned him into a human wreck.
Compare with
Ruine vs Zusammenbruch
collapse / breakdown
'Zusammenbruch' and 'Ruine' can both have to do with severe destruction or complete failure. The most important difference is: 'Zusammenbruch' usually describes the moment or process in which something suddenly stops functioning, collapses, or a person can no longer cope. 'Ruine' describes more the state afterward: something is destroyed, dilapidated, or completely finished. With buildings, a ruin is what remains after destruction. Figuratively, a project or a person can also be described as a 'Ruine', but that sounds very strong. In short: the 'Zusammenbruch' is the event; the 'Ruine' is the result or the state.
Ruine
Auf dem Hügel steht die Ruine einer Burg aus dem Mittelalter.
On the hill stands the ruin of a castle from the Middle Ages.
Zusammenbruch
Nach dem Zusammenbruch der alten Brücke wurde die Straße sofort gesperrt.
After the collapse of the old bridge, the road was closed immediately.
In real life
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