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.
to pause
To suddenly stop in a movement or action, usually out of surprise, astonishment, or suspicion.
Als sie die unerwartete Frage hörte, stutzte sie für einen Moment, bevor sie antwortete.
When she heard the unexpected question, she paused for a moment before answering.
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
Both words can refer to shortening or shaping hair or a beard. Schneiden is the more general term for the process, while stutzen usually emphasizes deliberate, controlled shortening and reshaping. Use schneiden in general, and stutzen especially for a slight trim or for plants.
Der Friseur stutzt meinen Bart heute nur leicht in Form.
The barber only lightly trims my beard into shape today.
Der Friseur schneidet meinen Bart heute deutlich kürzer.
The barber cuts my beard much shorter today.
