to simulate
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to fake
To pretend to have a particular physical or emotional state, for example an illness or a feeling.
Er hat nur eine Erkältung simuliert, um nicht zur Prüfung gehen zu müssen.
He only faked having a cold so he wouldn't have to go to the exam.
to simulate
To recreate the functioning or conditions of a real system or process using a model, often computer-based, in order to analyze it or train for it.
Piloten müssen im Flugsimulator trainieren, um gefährliche Notfallsituationen zu simulieren.
Pilots have to train in a flight simulator in order to simulate dangerous emergency situations.
Verbs ending in '-ieren' are almost always borrowed from another language and follow a fixed pattern: they are regular, inseparable, and form the perfect tense with 'haben' and the past participle ending in '-t' (simuliert).
Wir haben am Computer simuliert, wie sich das Klima verändern wird.
We used a computer to simulate how the climate will change.
The object of the verb reveals the meaning. If it refers to a personal state (illness, feeling), it means 'vortäuschen' (to fake / pretend). If it refers to a process or system, it means 'nachbilden' (to recreate / simulate).
Er simulierte Begeisterung, obwohl ihm das Geschenk nicht gefiel.
He faked enthusiasm, even though he didn't like the gift.
In this meaning, 'simulieren' (to fake) is often combined with negative or desired states. Typical phrases are: eine Krankheit simulieren (to fake an illness), Schmerzen simulieren (to fake pain), Interesse simulieren (to fake interest), or einen Orgasmus simulieren (to fake an orgasm).
Der Angeklagte simulierte eine psychische Störung, um einer Strafe zu entgehen.
The defendant faked a mental disorder in order to avoid punishment.
This meaning is common in science and technology. You can 'einen Prozess simulieren' (simulate a process), 'einen Flug simulieren' (simulate a flight), 'eine Notfallsituation simulieren' (simulate an emergency situation), or 'Bedingungen simulieren' (simulate conditions).
Mit dem Programm können Architekten simulieren, wie das Licht in ein Gebäude fällt.
With the program, architects can simulate how light enters a building.
to pretend / specify
Vorgeben is the general term for pretending and can involve various false states or roles. Simulieren is used especially for consciously imitating a physical or emotional state and sounds more factual. Use vorgeben for general pretending, and simulieren more for an imitated state.
Für das Theaterstück simulierte Paul starke Rückenschmerzen.
Paul pretended to have severe back pain for the play.
Für das Theaterstück gab Paul vor, ein berühmter Arzt zu sein.
Paul pretended to be a famous doctor for the play.
