to sniff / to sample
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to sniff
To draw in air briefly and often audibly through the nose in order to perceive a smell. This is typical of animals, but it is also used for people.
Der Hund schnupperte neugierig an der fremden Tasche.
The dog sniffed curiously at the unfamiliar bag.
to sample
In a figurative sense, to get a first, brief glimpse into a field or activity in order to get to know it.
Im Praktikum konnte sie in den Beruf einer Journalistin schnuppern.
During the internship, she was able to sample the profession of a journalist.
to smell
To use the nose to consciously take in a scent or smell.
Sie hielt die Blume unter ihre Nase, um daran zu schnuppern.
She held the flower under her nose to smell it.
The preposition after 'schnuppern' indicates the meaning. 'An etwas (Dativ) schnuppern' means literally to smell something. 'In etwas (Akkusativ) schnuppern' means to gain first experiences.
Die Katze schnuppert an der neuen Pflanze.
The cat sniffs at the new plant.
In the literal meaning of perceiving a smell, 'schnuppern' is often followed by the preposition 'an' with an object in the dative. This describes exactly what is being smelled.
Der Koch schnupperte an dem frischen Basilikum.
The cook sniffed the fresh basil.
The figurative meaning is often used in the context of work, training, or new experiences. Typical phrases are 'in einen Beruf schnuppern' (to sample a profession), 'Uni-Luft schnuppern' (to get a taste of university life), or 'in ein Hobby schnuppern' (to try out a hobby).
Mit einem Schnupperkurs kann man unverbindlich ins Klettern schnuppern.
With a trial course, you can sample climbing without any obligation.
to try out
Ausprobieren emphasizes that you personally test a new activity in practice. In etwas schnuppern, by contrast, means getting only a brief first glimpse in order to become familiar with the field. Use ausprobieren for active testing and schnuppern for briefly getting acquainted with something.
Lea schnuppert bei einem kurzen Besuch in die Arbeit der Werkstatt hinein.
Lea gets a brief taste of the workshop's work during a short visit.
Lea probiert die Arbeit in der Werkstatt einen ganzen Tag lang selbst aus.
Lea tries out the work in the workshop herself for a whole day.
