shipwreck
Loading your saved state.
shipwreck
The sinking or destruction of a ship on the water, for example due to a storm or a collision.
Nur wenige Passagiere überlebten den Schiffbruch des Luxusdampfers.
Only a few passengers survived the shipwreck of the luxury liner.
'Schiffbruch' (shipwreck) is made up of 'das Schiff' (the ship) and 'der Bruch' (the break). So it literally describes the moment when a ship breaks apart or is destroyed.
Der Sturm führte zum Schiffbruch des Frachters.
The storm led to the freighter's shipwreck.
Both in the literal and the figurative meaning, the fixed expression 'Schiffbruch erleiden' (to suffer shipwreck / to fail completely) is almost always used. This combination is very common and sounds more natural than other formulations.
Das historische Segelschiff hat vor der Küste Schiffbruch erlitten.
The historic sailing ship was shipwrecked off the coast.
When a plan or idea fails, the construction 'mit etwas (Dativ) Schiffbruch erleiden' (to fail with something) is used. The thing that fails is in the dative.
Er hat mit seiner Geschäftsidee Schiffbruch erlitten.
He failed with his business idea.
You can recognize the meaning from the subject. If it is about a ship, a captain, or a journey, the literal meaning is intended. If it is about a person, a project, an idea, or a relationship, the figurative meaning of failure is intended.
Die Titanic erlitt auf ihrer Jungfernfahrt Schiffbruch.
The Titanic was shipwrecked on her maiden voyage.
downfall / sinking / sunset
'der Untergang' and 'der Schiffbruch' can both have to do with a ship being lost in the water. 'der Untergang' mainly emphasizes the sinking of the ship. 'der Schiffbruch' refers more to the disaster at sea in which a ship sinks or is destroyed. So 'Schiffbruch' focuses more strongly on the accident and the people in that situation. Figuratively, 'Schiffbruch erleiden' can also mean that a plan fails completely. 'Untergang' can also mean a major failure, but then it sounds more like a final collapse.
Nach dem Schiffbruch wurden die Passagiere von einem Fischerboot gerettet.
After the shipwreck, the passengers were rescued by a fishing boat.
Der Film zeigt den Untergang eines großen Schiffes im Sturm.
The film shows the sinking of a large ship in a storm.