harassment / chicane
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harassment
Malicious, petty torment or harassment intended to deliberately cause someone difficulties or annoy them.
Die ständigen Schikanen des neuen Chefs machten allen das Leben schwer.
The constant harassment from the new boss made life difficult for everyone.
The two meanings are clearly separated by context. If it is about human behavior, bullying, or bureaucracy, 'Belästigung' (harassment) is meant. If it is about motorsport, racetracks, or high speeds, the combination of curves is meant.
Die ständigen Schikanen durch den Vorgesetzten sind unerträglich.
The constant harassment by the supervisor is unbearable.
In this meaning, 'Schikane' (harassment) is often used with verbs such as 'ertragen' (to endure) or 'erleiden' (to suffer). Common adjectives are 'ständige' (constant), 'willkürliche' (arbitrary), or 'kleinliche' (petty) Schikanen, often in the context of work or authorities.
Er war den Schikanen seiner Kollegen ausgesetzt.
He was subjected to the harassment of his colleagues.
In a motorsport context, a 'Schikane' (chicane) is 'durchfahren' (driven through) or 'genommen' (taken). It is often described as 'eng' (tight), 'schnell' (fast), or 'langsam' (slow), and it serves to 'reduzieren' (reduce) the speed on a straight.
In der letzten Runde verlor er in der Schikane wertvolle Sekunden.
In the final lap, he lost valuable seconds in the chicane.
curve
'Kurve' and 'Schikane' can both have to do with a bend on a route, especially when talking about racing. A 'Kurve' is generally a bend in a road, path, or track. A 'Schikane' is, in motorsport, an artificial, tight combination of curves that is meant to slow the vehicles down. So not every curve is a chicane. The words can be confused because a chicane consists of curves. For normal roads and paths, 'Kurve' fits; for a special section of a racetrack, 'Schikane' fits.
Vor der Schikane bremsen die Fahrer stark ab.
The drivers brake hard before the chicane.
Wegen des Regens fährt Max in der Kurve besonders langsam.
Because of the rain, Max drives especially slowly in the curve.