trial
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trial riding
A sport with motorcycles or bicycles in which the goal is to overcome a difficult off-road course with obstacles without touching the ground with your feet. Skill matters more than speed here.
Am Wochenende findet in den Bergen ein internationales Trial für Motorräder statt.
An international motorcycle trial is taking place in the mountains this weekend.
Careful: 'das Trial' in German never means a court trial. The English word 'trial' has this meaning, but the German loanword does not. A court trial is called 'der Prozess' or 'das Gerichtsverfahren' in German.
Der Angeklagte wartet auf seinen Prozess.
The defendant is waiting for his trial.
You can recognize the meaning of 'Trial' from the context. If it is about 'Motorräder' (motorcycles), 'Fahrräder' (bicycles), or 'Parcours' (course), the sport is meant. In connection with 'klinisch' (clinical), 'Medikament' (medication), or 'Patienten' (patients), it refers to a scientific study.
Er fährt in seiner Freizeit Trial mit dem Mountainbike.
He rides trials on his mountain bike in his free time.
Both meanings of 'Trial' belong to technical language. One is used in sports, the other in medicine and science. The word is rare in general everyday vocabulary.
Für Laien sind die Regeln beim Motorrad-Trial schwer zu verstehen.
For laypeople, the rules of motorcycle trials are hard to understand.
In a sports context, people say 'ein Trial fahren' (to ride a trial) or 'an einem Trial teilnehmen' (to take part in a trial). The type of vehicle is often mentioned, e.g., 'Motorrad-Trial' (motorcycle trial) or 'Fahrrad-Trial' (bicycle trial).
Nächstes Jahr möchte er an einem internationalen Trial teilnehmen.
Next year he wants to take part in an international trial.
attempt / experiment
'der Versuch' and 'das Trial' can both mean a planned test, especially in science and medicine. 'Versuch' is the general German word and fits many situations: in the lab, at school, or also more generally when you try something out. 'Trial' is used much more specifically, mainly for clinical studies with new medications or treatments. Learners may confuse the words because both involve testing something. In everyday language, however, 'Versuch' usually sounds more natural. 'Trial' is more appropriate in medical or scientific specialist texts.
Das neue Medikament wird in einem klinischen Trial mit vielen Patienten getestet.
The new medication is being tested in a clinical trial with many patients.
Im Labor macht die Klasse einen Versuch mit Wasser und Salz.
In the lab, the class does an experiment with water and salt.