damage / harm
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damage
The state of being damaged; the harm, injury, or impairment that has resulted from a harmful effect. This can refer to health, property, or the environment.
Durch den Unfall erlitt er eine dauerhafte Schädigung des Gehörs.
As a result of the accident, he suffered permanent damage to his hearing.
causing damage
The process or act by which harm, injury, or disadvantage is inflicted on someone or something.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft wirft ihm die vorsätzliche Schädigung fremden Eigentums vor.
The public prosecutor accuses him of deliberately causing damage to someone else's property.
The noun 'die Schädigung' (damage/harm) is derived from the verb 'schädigen' (to damage/harm). The ending '-ung' turns the verb into a noun that can describe both the act of causing damage and its result.
Die laute Musik führte zu einer Schädigung seines Gehörs.
The loud music led to damage to his hearing.
'Schädigung' (damage/harm) is a formal word. It is often used in medical, legal, or scientific texts to speak precisely about damage or harm.
Der Arzt stellte eine Schädigung der Nerven fest.
The doctor diagnosed damage to the nerves.
When the state of being damaged is meant, 'Schädigung' (damage) is often combined with adjectives like 'bleibend' (lasting), 'dauerhaft' (permanent), or 'gesundheitlich' (health-related). Common verbs in this context are 'erleiden' (to suffer) or 'davontragen' (to sustain).
Durch den Lärm hat er eine bleibende Schädigung des Ohrs davongetragen.
Because of the noise, he sustained lasting damage to his ear.
The meaning 'act of causing damage' is often found in legal contexts. Typical phrases here are 'vorsätzliche Schädigung' (deliberate causing of damage) or 'Schädigung fremden Eigentums' (damage to someone else's property).
Ihm wird die Schädigung des geparkten Autos vorgeworfen.
He is accused of causing damage to the parked car.
damage / harm
Here, Schaden refers to the negative consequence that remains on something after harmful exposure. Schädigung, by contrast, can refer to the process through which this consequence arises. Use Schaden for the result and Schädigung for the ongoing harmful process.
Die Schädigung der Obstbäume begann während der Frostnacht.
The damage to the fruit trees began during the night of frost.
Nach der Frostnacht blieb an den Obstbäumen ein großer Schaden zurück.
The frost left extensive damage on the fruit trees.
