tätig sein
to be employed
To work professionally; to be employed in a particular field or position. Often used in formal language.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist seit über zehn Jahren als Anwältin tätig.
She has been employed as a lawyer for over ten years.
tätig
active / employed
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Meanings
tätig werden
to take action
To become active; to start acting in order to solve a problem or change a situation.
EXAMPLE
Als sie den Unfall sahen, wurden sofort mehrere Ersthelfer tätig.
When they saw the accident, several first responders took action immediately.
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'tätig' (active/employed) is closely related to the noun 'die Tat' (action, deed). It therefore describes the state of carrying out an action or being active.
EXAMPLE
Er war in vielen sozialen Projekten ehrenamtlich tätig.
He was active as a volunteer in many social projects.
Sentence structure and usage
'Tätig' is used almost exclusively predicatively, meaning after a verb such as 'sein' (to be) or 'werden' (to become). Using it directly before a noun (e.g. 'ein tätiger Mann') is very rare and sounds outdated.
EXAMPLE
Mein Vater war 40 Jahre lang als Lehrer tätig.
My father worked as a teacher for 40 years.
Sein vs. werden
The verb used changes the meaning: 'tätig sein' describes a state or profession, while 'tätig werden' describes the beginning of an action or an intervention.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist als Ärztin in einem Krankenhaus tätig.
She is employed as a doctor in a hospital.
Register
The expression 'tätig sein' is a formal alternative to 'arbeiten als' (to work as). It is often used in CVs, official documents, and business language.
EXAMPLE
Dr. Meier ist in der Forschung und Entwicklung tätig.
Dr. Meier works in research and development.
Compare with
tätig vs aktiv
active
Both expressions can indicate that someone takes action in a situation. „Aktiv werden“ is general and emphasizes the start of one’s own actions; „tätig werden“ is especially common in the fixed, somewhat more formal expression used when someone intervenes to solve a problem. „Tätig werden“ often fits such calls to action.
tätig
Als die Beschwerden zunahmen, wurde die zuständige Stelle tätig und suchte eine Lösung.
As the complaints increased, the responsible office took action and looked for a solution.
aktiv
Als die Beschwerden zunahmen, wurde der Verein aktiv und suchte eine Lösung.
As the complaints increased, the association took action and looked for a solution.
In real life
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