scheinen
to shine
To emit or reflect light.
EXAMPLE
Die Sonne scheint heute den ganzen Tag.
The sun is shining all day today.
scheinen
to shine / seem
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Meanings
scheinen
to seem
To appear or give the impression of being something or being in a certain state. Often used with 'zu' + infinitive or an adjective.
EXAMPLE
Er scheint ein sehr kompetenter Mitarbeiter zu sein.
He seems to be a very competent employee.
Usage tips
Context clue
The two meanings can be distinguished well by sentence structure. If the subject is a source of light (sun, lamp), 'scheinen' means to give off light. If it is combined with 'zu' + infinitive or an adjective, it means 'den Anschein haben' (to seem).
EXAMPLE
Der Mond scheint heute Nacht sehr hell.
The moon is shining very brightly tonight.
Sentence structure with 'zu'
In the meaning 'den Anschein haben' (to seem), 'scheinen' is often used like a modal verb and appears together with 'zu' and an infinitive at the end of the sentence. This construction expresses an assumption.
EXAMPLE
Der Chef scheint mit dem Ergebnis zufrieden zu sein.
The boss seems to be satisfied with the result.
Typical subjects
When 'scheinen' describes the emission of light, the typical subjects are sources of light. These include especially 'die Sonne' (the sun), 'der Mond' (the moon), 'die Sterne' (the stars), or artificial light sources like 'die Lampe' (the lamp) or 'die Taschenlampe' (the flashlight).
EXAMPLE
Die Sterne scheinen klar am Nachthimmel.
The stars are shining clearly in the night sky.
Compare with
scheinen vs wirken
to seem / take effect
Scheinen and wirken can both express an assumed state. Scheinen presents more of a cautious assumption and is often used with zu and an infinitive. Wirken describes the impression made on an observer more directly. Both are possible when this difference in perspective is taken into account.
scheinen
Nach der langen Fahrt scheint Lea müde zu sein.
After the long drive, Lea seems to be tired.
wirken
Nach der langen Fahrt wirkt Lea müde.
After the long drive, Lea looks tired.
In real life
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