running time / playing time
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running time / playing time
The period of time that a game, film, play, or similar event lasts from beginning to end.
Die reguläre Spieldauer eines Fußballspiels beträgt 90 Minuten.
The regular playing time of a soccer match is 90 minutes.
The word is made up of 'das Spiel' (game/play) and 'die Dauer' (duration). It therefore literally describes the duration of a game, film, or performance.
Die Spieldauer des Films beträgt fast drei Stunden.
The running time of the film is almost three hours.
The word part 'Dauer' (duration) is related to the verb 'dauern' (to last). When something 'dauert' (lasts), it has a certain 'Dauer' (duration).
Wie lange dauert das Theaterstück? Ich kenne die Spieldauer nicht.
How long does the play last? I don't know the running time.
Typical sentence patterns are 'Die Spieldauer beträgt ...' (The running/playing time is ...) or '... hat eine Spieldauer von ...' (... has a running/playing time of ...). These are used to state the exact period of time.
Ein Eishockeyspiel hat eine reguläre Spieldauer von 60 Minuten.
An ice hockey game has a regular playing time of 60 minutes.
length
'die Länge' and 'die Spieldauer' can both say how long something lasts. 'die Länge' is more general and works for many things, for example a conversation, a film, or a text. 'die Spieldauer' is more specific. It is used mainly for films, games, plays, or similar events. Learners may confuse the words because both refer to duration. If you are talking about time in general, 'Länge' fits. If it is about a game, film, or performance from beginning to end, 'Spieldauer' sounds more precise.
Vor dem Kinobesuch prüfen wir die Spieldauer des Films.
Before going to the cinema, we check the film's running time.
Die Länge des Vortrags war für die Zuhörer genau richtig.
The length of the lecture was just right for the audience.