treasure hunt
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treasure hunt
The active search for hidden treasure. This can be a real search for valuables or a game, especially for children.
Beim Kindergeburtstag veranstalteten wir eine spannende Schatzsuche im Garten.
At the children's birthday party, we organized an exciting treasure hunt in the garden.
The word is a clear compound of 'der Schatz' (treasure) and 'die Suche' (search). The 's' in between is a linking s that connects the two words. So the meaning is literally a 'search for a treasure'.
Die Kinder waren begeistert von der Idee einer Schatzsuche.
The children were excited about the idea of a treasure hunt.
'Schatzsuche' (treasure hunt) is often combined with certain verbs. You can say 'eine Schatzsuche machen' (to do a treasure hunt) or 'eine Schatzsuche veranstalten' (to organize a treasure hunt). If you are actively searching, you can also say that you 'auf Schatzsuche geht' (go treasure hunting).
Die Eltern veranstalten für den Geburtstag eine Schatzsuche.
The parents are organizing a treasure hunt for the birthday.
The context tells you whether a game or a real search is meant. Words like 'Kindergeburtstag' (children's birthday party) or 'Garten' (garden) point to a game. Terms like 'Piraten' (pirates), 'alte Karte' (old map), or 'Archäologen' (archaeologists) indicate a serious search for valuables.
Die Schatzsuche führte die Kinder quer durch den ganzen Park.
The treasure hunt led the children all across the park.
search for clues
'Spurensuche' and 'Schatzsuche' both describe a search in which you follow clues. The difference is the goal. In 'Spurensuche', you look for traces or clues in order to explain something, find a person, or solve a crime. In 'Schatzsuche', you look for hidden treasure; often this is a game for children. The words can be confused when a treasure hunt also uses traces or clues. Even so, the whole thing is called 'Schatzsuche' when the treasure is the goal.
Zum Kindergeburtstag versteckte Paul eine Kiste für die Schatzsuche im Garten.
For the children's birthday party, Paul hid a box in the garden for the treasure hunt.
Im Wald half ein kleiner Abdruck bei der Spurensuche nach dem verlorenen Hund.
In the forest, a small print helped in the search for clues to find the lost dog.