to scold / to complain
Loading your saved state.
to scold / complain
To express one's anger or dissatisfaction about someone or something loudly and angrily; to reprimand someone.
Der Nachbar schimpft jeden Morgen über die laute Müllabfuhr.
The neighbor complains every morning about the loud garbage collection.
to call itself
To call oneself or itself by a particular name or job title, often ironically or disparagingly.
Dieses Etablissement schimpft sich Restaurant, ist aber eigentlich nur eine Imbissbude.
This establishment calls itself a restaurant, but it is really just a snack bar.
The reflexive pronoun 'sich' changes the meaning completely. Without 'sich', 'schimpfen' (to scold / complain) means to be angry or to reprimand someone. With 'sich', it means that something bears a name it does not deserve.
Er schimpft, weil der Zug schon wieder Verspätung hat.
He is complaining because the train is delayed yet again.
The preposition shows what the anger refers to. One says 'über' something (accusative), 'mit' someone (dative), or 'auf' someone/something (accusative) with 'schimpfen' (to scold / complain).
Sie schimpfte über das schlechte Wetter.
She complained about the bad weather.
The reflexive form 'sich schimpfen' (to call itself/oneself) is always ironic or disparaging. It expresses that a label is exaggerated or inappropriate.
Der kalte Kaffee schimpft sich „Heißgetränk“.
The cold coffee calls itself a 'hot drink'.
to be called / to mean
Heißen names a person or thing neutrally. Sich schimpfen can also express that someone or something bears a name or designation, but it often sounds ironic or disparaging. It is especially appropriate when the designation seems undeserved or exaggerated.
Diese einfache Bar schimpft sich Königspalast.
This simple bar calls itself Royal Palace.
Die neue Bar heißt Königspalast.
The new bar is called Royal Palace.
