fuel
Loading your saved state.
fuel
A combustible substance used in motors or engines to generate propulsive energy. Examples include gasoline, diesel, kerosene, or rocket fuel.
Das Flugzeug musste zwischenlanden, um Treibstoff zu tanken.
The airplane had to make a stopover to refuel.
'Treibstoff' is made up of the verb 'treiben' (in the sense of to drive or propel) and the noun 'Stoff' (material, substance). So it is literally a substance that drives something.
Ohne Treibstoff kann der Motor nicht arbeiten.
Without fuel, the engine cannot work.
In its literal meaning, 'Treibstoff' is often used with verbs like 'tanken' (to refuel), 'verbrauchen' (to consume), or 'ausgehen' (to run out).
Vor der langen Fahrt müssen wir unbedingt noch Treibstoff tanken.
Before the long drive, we absolutely still need to refuel.
You can recognize the figurative meaning when 'Treibstoff' is combined with abstract concepts like 'Erfolg' (success), 'Motivation' (motivation), 'Wirtschaft' (economy), or 'Kreativität' (creativity).
Anerkennung ist der beste Treibstoff für die Motivation der Mitarbeiter.
Recognition is the best fuel for employees' motivation.
motivation
'die Motivation' and 'der Treibstoff' can both describe, in a figurative sense, something that drives a person or a development. 'Motivation' is the normal expression for a person's inner drive. 'Treibstoff' is more figurative: it means something that acts like energy for an action or a process. The words can be confused because both have to do with drive. 'Motivation' is more precise when you are talking about a person's feelings, goals, or reasons. 'Treibstoff' fits better in figurative sentences when you want to express the driving force especially strongly.
Die Freude über den ersten Erfolg war der Treibstoff für das ganze Projekt.
The joy over the first success was the fuel for the whole project.
Seine Motivation für die neue Ernährung ist vor allem seine Gesundheit.
His motivation for the new diet is mainly his health.