to stoke
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to stoke
To deliberately intensify or provoke negative feelings such as hatred, fear, envy, or conflicts.
Mit seinen Reden versuchte der Politiker, Ängste in der Bevölkerung zu schüren.
With his speeches, the politician tried to stoke fears among the population.
to stoke
To work on a fire, especially embers, with a tool in order to improve the air supply and make it burn more strongly.
Er schürte das Feuer im Kamin, um den Raum zu wärmen.
He stoked the fire in the fireplace to warm the room.
The meaning 'Gefühle verstärken' (to intensify feelings) is a metaphor. Just as you fan or stoke a fire (meaning 2) so that it grows, you can also 'anfachen' (fan/stoke) negative feelings such as fear or hatred so that they become stronger.
Die Gerüchte schürten die Panik in der kleinen Stadt.
The rumors stoked panic in the small town.
The object of the verb makes the meaning clear. If it is an abstract, negative noun such as 'Angst' (fear), 'Hass' (hatred), or 'Konflikte' (conflicts), the metaphorical meaning is intended. With concrete nouns such as 'Feuer' (fire) or 'Glut' (embers), it is about the literal meaning.
Er schürte den Hass gegen die Minderheit. (Gefühle)
He stoked hatred against the minority. (feelings)
In the figurative meaning, 'schüren' (to stoke) is almost always used with negative emotions or situations. Typical combinations are 'Ängste schüren' (to stoke fears), 'Hass schüren' (to stoke hatred), 'Konflikte schüren' (to fuel conflicts), or 'Misstrauen schüren' (to sow/stoke mistrust).
Die falsche Nachricht hat das Misstrauen in der Bevölkerung geschürt.
The false report stoked mistrust among the population.
In its literal meaning, 'schüren' (to stoke) is used for open fires such as a fireplace, a campfire, or an old stove. A tool, the 'Schürhaken' (poker), is often used for this.
Jeden Abend schürte der Großvater das Feuer im Kamin.
Every evening, the grandfather stoked the fire in the fireplace.
to breed / cultivate
züchten and schüren can both describe promoting the development of a negative state. züchten usually describes something negative coming into existence or growing, while schüren typically means deliberately intensifying existing feelings or conflicts. Use züchten for the development and schüren for further escalation.
Die ständigen Gerüchte schürten das bereits vorhandene Misstrauen in der Gruppe.
The constant rumors stoked the mistrust that already existed within the group.
Die ständigen Gerüchte züchteten in der Gruppe langsam Misstrauen.
The constant rumors slowly bred mistrust within the group.
