strafbar
punishable
Describes an action that violates a law and can be punished legally.
EXAMPLE
Diebstahl ist eine strafbare Handlung.
Theft is a punishable offense.
strafbar
punishable
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Meanings
sich strafbar machen
to commit an offense
To commit an act prohibited by law and thereby expose oneself to the risk of punishment.
EXAMPLE
Wer ohne Führerschein Auto fährt, macht sich strafbar.
Anyone who drives a car without a driver's license is committing an offense.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is easy to understand if you break it down: it consists of 'Strafe' (punishment) and the ending '-bar' (-able). The ending '-bar' means that something is possible. So 'strafbar' (punishable) literally means: you can receive a punishment for it.
EXAMPLE
Es ist strafbar, bei einer Prüfung zu betrügen.
It is punishable to cheat on an exam.
Fixed expression
The expression 'sich strafbar machen' (to commit an offense) is very common and has a fixed structure. Note the reflexive pronoun 'sich', which changes according to the person (ich mache mich, du machst dich, er macht sich strafbar).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich mit dieser Aktion strafbar gemacht.
He committed an offense with this action.
Typical collocations
'Strafbar' (punishable) usually describes abstract nouns such as 'Handlung' (action), 'Tat' (act), or 'Verhalten' (behavior). You can also ask: 'Ist das strafbar?' (Is that punishable?)
EXAMPLE
Nicht jedes unmoralische Verhalten ist auch strafbar.
Not every immoral behavior is also punishable.
Compare with
strafbar vs illegal
illegal
Illegal and strafbar both describe conduct that violates the law. Illegal emphasizes the violation of the law; strafbar additionally says that the action can be punished under the law. When the possibility of a specific punishment is explicitly at issue, strafbar is more precise.
strafbar
Für diese Handlung ist eine Strafe vorgesehen, deshalb ist sie strafbar.
This action is subject to a penalty, so it is punishable.
illegal
Diese Handlung verstößt gegen das Gesetz und ist deshalb illegal.
This action violates the law and is therefore illegal.
In real life
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