01
der Sinn
meaning / purpose
The meaning, purpose, or intention behind a thing, action, or life itself.
example
Was ist der Sinn dieser neuen Regelung?
What is the purpose of this new regulation?
der Sinn
meaning / sense
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Sinn' (meaning/sense) is the basis for many other important words. These include the adjectives 'sinnvoll' (meaningful/sensible) and 'sinnlos' (meaningless/pointless), as well as the noun 'Unsinn' (nonsense).
EXAMPLE
Es ist sinnvoll, sich gut auf die Prüfung vorzubereiten.
It makes sense to prepare well for the exam.
Sentence structure and usage
When asking about the purpose or meaning, you often use the structure 'der Sinn von' (the meaning/purpose of) with the dative or a genitive construction.
EXAMPLE
Ich verstehe den Sinn von dieser komplizierten Regel nicht.
I don't understand the point of this complicated rule.
The five senses
In the plural, 'die Sinne' (the senses) usually refers to the five classic forms of perception. These are often formed as compound words with '-sinn' (-sense): Sehsinn (sense of sight), Hörsinn (sense of hearing), Geruchssinn (sense of smell), Geschmackssinn (sense of taste), and Tastsinn (sense of touch).
EXAMPLE
Der Tastsinn ist bei blinden Menschen oft besonders gut entwickelt.
The sense of touch is often especially well developed in blind people.
Fixed expression
The expression 'Sinn für etwas haben' (to have a sense for something) means to have a special feeling or talent for an area. The 'etwas' is always in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Er hat wirklich einen ausgeprägten Sinn für Gerechtigkeit.
He really has a strong sense of justice.
Typical verbs
To express that something is logical, the verbs 'ergeben' (to result in/make) and 'machen' (to make) are used. Both are very common, especially in spoken language.
EXAMPLE
Deine Erklärung ergibt endlich Sinn.
Your explanation finally makes sense.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas im Sinn haben' (to have something in mind) means to have an intention or to be thinking of something. The preposition 'im' (in dem) is a fixed part of the expression here.
EXAMPLE
Er hat uns nicht verraten, was er mit dem alten Haus im Sinn hat.
He didn't tell us what he has in mind for the old house.
Compare with
Sinn vs Grund
reason / ground
'der Grund' and 'der Sinn' can both explain why you do something or why something is important. 'Der Grund' is more about the cause or occasion: What triggered something? 'Der Sinn' is more about the purpose, meaning, or whether something is logical and useful. Learners often confuse the words because in both cases you can ask 'why'. If you want to name the cause, 'Grund' fits. If you mean the purpose or meaning, 'Sinn' is a better fit.
Sinn
Zum Üben besprechen wir den Sinn dieser Aufgabe noch einmal.
For practice, we discuss the point of this exercise once again.
Grund
Vor dem Termin nennt Lisa den Grund für ihre Absage.
Before the appointment, Lisa gives the reason for her cancellation.
In real life
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