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sorgsam
careful
Done with great care and attention; cautious and thoughtful.
example
Sie ging sehr sorgsam mit den alten Büchern aus der Bibliothek um.
She handled the old books from the library very carefully.
sorgsam
careful
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The adjective 'sorgsam' (careful) is derived from the noun 'die Sorge' (worry, care). The ending '-sam' expresses that a person or action is characterized by this quality.
EXAMPLE
Mit sorgsamer Handbewegung setzte er die Figur auf das Brett.
With a careful hand movement, he placed the piece on the board.
Adjective and adverb
'Sorgsam' (careful, carefully) can describe a noun as an adjective or specify a verb more closely as an adverb. As an adverb, it answers the question 'Wie?' (How?).
EXAMPLE
Ein sorgsamer Umgang mit Ressourcen ist wichtig für die Umwelt.
Careful use of resources is important for the environment.
Typical collocations
'Sorgsam' (careful, carefully) is often combined with verbs that describe a deliberate action. Typical combinations are 'sorgsam umgehen mit' (to handle carefully), 'sorgsam auswählen' (to choose carefully), and 'sorgsam prüfen' (to check carefully).
EXAMPLE
Der Archivar muss sorgsam mit den alten Dokumenten umgehen.
The archivist has to handle the old documents carefully.
Compare with
sorgsam vs vorsichtig
careful / cautious
'vorsichtig' and 'sorgsam' both have to do with attention and care. 'vorsichtig' is used especially when you want to avoid danger, a mistake, or damage. It fits well in risky situations, for example in traffic or when handling fragile things. 'sorgsam' puts more emphasis on something being done precisely, neatly, and with a lot of effort. Learners may confuse the words because both describe careful behavior. As a simple guide: 'vorsichtig' fits more with danger, while 'sorgsam' fits more with good, precise work.
sorgsam
Nach dem Unterricht legt Sofia die Zeichnungen sorgsam in ihre Mappe.
After class, Sofia carefully puts the drawings into her folder.
vorsichtig
Bitte sei vorsichtig, die Treppe ist nach dem Regen sehr rutschig.
Please be careful; the stairs are very slippery after the rain.
In real life
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