sinnvoll
sensible
Having a recognizable meaning, purpose, or benefit; reasonable and logical.
EXAMPLE
Es ist sinnvoll, sich vor einer Prüfung gut vorzubereiten.
It is sensible to prepare well before an exam.
sinnvoll
sensible
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of 'Sinn' (meaning/sense) and the ending '-voll' (full of). It literally means 'full of meaning'. The ending '-voll' is often used to express that something is filled with a quality.
EXAMPLE
Eine gute Planung ist für das Projekt sehr sinnvoll.
Good planning is very sensible for the project.
Typical sentence patterns
'Sinnvoll' (sensible) is very often used in the impersonal construction 'Es ist sinnvoll, ...' (It is sensible to ...), followed by an infinitive clause with 'zu' or a subordinate clause with 'dass'. This structure expresses a recommendation or a logical conclusion.
EXAMPLE
Es ist sinnvoll, vor der Reise eine Versicherung abzuschließen.
It is sensible to take out insurance before the trip.
Typical collocations
The adjective 'sinnvoll' (sensible) often describes abstract nouns such as actions, plans, or investments. Typical combinations are: 'eine sinnvolle Ergänzung' (a sensible addition), 'eine sinnvolle Maßnahme' (a sensible measure), 'eine sinnvolle Investition' (a sensible investment), or 'eine sinnvolle Nutzung' (sensible use).
EXAMPLE
Der Kauf von Winterreifen war eine sinnvolle Investition in unsere Sicherheit.
Buying winter tires was a sensible investment in our safety.
Compare with
sinnvoll vs nützlich
useful
Something is sinnvoll (sensible) if it has a reasonable purpose or a clear benefit. Something is nützlich (useful) if it helps with a specific task or is well suited to it. An acquisition can therefore be sinnvoll overall, while an individual item can be practically nützlich.
sinnvoll
Für den täglichen Arbeitsweg ist die Anschaffung eines Fahrrads sinnvoll.
Buying a bicycle makes sense for the daily commute.
nützlich
Für kleine Reparaturen am Fahrrad ist dieses Werkzeug nützlich.
This tool is useful for making small bicycle repairs.
In real life
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