01
sägen
to saw
To cut through or work on something, usually wood, metal, or plastic, with a saw.
example
Der Tischler sägte das Brett exakt auf die richtige Länge.
The carpenter sawed the board to exactly the right length.
sägen
to saw / snore
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical collocations
In its main meaning, 'sägen' (to saw) is often combined with materials that can be cut. Common objects are 'Holz' (wood), 'ein Brett' (a board), 'ein Ast' (a branch), or 'Metall' (metal).
EXAMPLE
Er hat den ganzen Nachmittag Holz für den Winter gesägt.
He sawed wood for the winter all afternoon.
Register and context
The meaning 'laut schnarchen' (to snore loudly) is colloquial. It is used to describe the noise as very loud and disturbing, similar to the sound of a saw. The context is always sleeping.
EXAMPLE
Mein Hund hat letzte Nacht so laut gesägt, dass ich aufgewacht bin.
My dog snored so loudly last night that I woke up.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'an jemandes Stuhl sägen' (to undermine someone's position) is a fixed construction with the preposition 'an' and the dative. It means that someone is trying to secretly weaken another person's position.
EXAMPLE
Er hat das Gefühl, dass sein neuer Kollege an seinem Stuhl sägt.
He has the feeling that his new colleague is undermining his position.
Compare with
sägen vs schneiden
to cut
'schneiden' and 'sägen' both describe separating or working on material. 'schneiden' is more general and is used with knives, scissors, or other sharp tools. 'sägen' is more specific: you use a saw and usually work on wood, metal, or plastic. Learners may confuse the words because in both cases, part of the material is separated in the end. The basic rule is simple: with a knife or scissors you use 'schneiden'; with a saw you use 'sägen'.
sägen
Für das neue Regal sägt Paul ein langes Brett in zwei Teile.
For the new shelf, Paul saws a long board into two pieces.
schneiden
Am Montag hat Tom ein Stück Stoff für das Kostüm geschnitten.
On Monday, Tom cut a piece of fabric for the costume.
In real life
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