fate
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fate
A higher power or course of events that is seen as predetermined and unchangeable; one's personal lot or destiny.
Manche glauben, dass es Schicksal war, als sie ihren Partner trafen.
Some people believe it was fate when they met their partner.
The word 'Schicksal' (fate) is related to the verb 'schicken' (to send). The basic idea is that fate is something that is 'geschickt' (sent) to someone by a higher power or predetermined for them.
Er nahm sein Schicksal an, wie es kam.
He accepted his fate as it came.
'Schicksal' (fate) is often combined with strong verbs and adjectives. Typical phrases are 'an das Schicksal glauben' (to believe in fate), 'sein Schicksal akzeptieren' (to accept one's fate), 'ein tragisches Schicksal' (a tragic fate), or 'das Schicksal herausfordern' (to tempt fate).
Viele Menschen leiden unter einem schweren Schicksal.
Many people suffer under a difficult fate.
A very common and positive idiom is 'sein Schicksal selbst in die Hand nehmen' (to take one's fate into one's own hands). It means to actively shape one's life and not let oneself be guided passively.
Nach der Kündigung beschloss sie, ihr Schicksal selbst in die Hand zu nehmen und eine eigene Firma zu gründen.
After being laid off, she decided to take her fate into her own hands and start her own company.
happiness / luck
'das Glück' and 'das Schicksal' can both have to do with things that you cannot fully control yourself. Here, 'Glück' means a fortunate coincidence or something positive that happens to someone. 'Schicksal' more often means the whole course of a life or events that seem predetermined. It can be positive, but it often sounds serious or negative. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with chance and life. When something turns out well, people often say 'Glück'; when it is about the larger path of life or unchangeable events, 'Schicksal' fits better.
Nach dem Unfall musste er sein Schicksal neu annehmen.
After the accident, he had to come to terms with his fate again.
Wir hatten Glück, dass der Zug noch nicht abgefahren war.
We were lucky that the train had not left yet.