to trim / pause
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to trim
To shorten something or cut it into shape, especially plants such as hedges and trees, but also hair or a beard.
Der Gärtner muss dringend die Rosen stutzen, damit sie im Sommer wieder blühen.
The gardener urgently needs to trim the roses so that they bloom again in summer.
The two meanings can easily be distinguished by the sentence structure. If 'stutzen' has an accusative object, it means 'kürzen' (to shorten/trim), e.g. 'die Hecke stutzen' (to trim the hedge). Without an object, it means 'innehalten' (to pause/stop short).
Ich muss am Wochenende den Busch im Garten stutzen.
I have to trim the bush in the garden at the weekend.
In the meaning 'kürzen' (to shorten/trim), the verb is often used for plants, hair, or beards. Typical objects are: 'eine Hecke' (a hedge), 'einen Baum' (a tree), 'die Haare' (hair), 'einen Bart' (a beard), or 'die Fingernägel stutzen' (to trim one's fingernails).
Er geht alle vier Wochen zum Friseur, um sich den Bart stutzen zu lassen.
He goes to the barber every four weeks to have his beard trimmed.
In the meaning 'innehalten' (to pause/stop short), 'stutzen' is often supplemented by a subordinate clause with 'als' (when) or 'weil' (because), which explains the reason for the surprise. It can also stand on its own to express a brief pause.
Sie stutzte, als sie ihren alten Schulfreund auf der Straße sah.
She paused when she saw her old school friend on the street.
to cut
'schneiden' and 'stutzen' can both mean making something shorter. 'schneiden' is the more general word: you can cut vegetables, paper, hair, or many other things. 'stutzen' fits better when you only shorten something and shape it, especially plants, a hedge, hair, or a beard. Learners may confuse the words because both often involve scissors. If it is simply about dividing something with a sharp tool, you usually say 'schneiden'. If it is about shortening and shaping, 'stutzen' is more precise.
Im Frühling stutzt die Nachbarin die Hecke vor dem Haus.
In spring, the neighbor trims the hedge in front of the house.
Für den Salat schneidet Max die Gurke in dünne Scheiben.
For the salad, Max cuts the cucumber into thin slices.