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drive
An innate, inner force or instinct that pushes a living being toward a certain behavior in order to satisfy basic needs.
Der Selbsterhaltungstrieb ist einer der stärksten Triebe des Menschen.
The drive for self-preservation is one of the strongest human drives.
The noun 'der Trieb' is closely related to the verb 'treiben', which means 'to drive' or 'to urge'. So a 'Trieb' is literally something that drives a living being from within or pushes out of the ground.
Neugier ist ein starker Trieb, der uns zum Lernen treibt.
Curiosity is a strong drive that drives us to learn.
You can easily recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about psychology, biology, or human behavior, the inner urge (instinct) is meant. If it is about plants, gardening, or nature, the new plant part is meant.
Der Spieltrieb ist bei jungen Säugetieren stark ausgeprägt.
The play drive is strongly developed in young mammals.
In the meaning of 'Instinkt' (instinct), 'Trieb' is often used with verbs such as 'einem Trieb folgen' (to follow a drive), 'einen Trieb unterdrücken' (to suppress a drive), or 'einen Trieb verspüren' (to feel a drive). Common adjectives are 'sexuell' (sexual), 'natürlich' (natural), or 'zerstörerisch' (destructive).
Er konnte dem Trieb nicht widerstehen, noch ein Stück Schokolade zu essen.
He couldn't resist the drive to eat another piece of chocolate.
need
'das Bedürfnis' and 'der Trieb' can both have to do with an inner desire. 'Bedürfnis' is the normal word when a person needs something or considers it important, for example closeness, food, rest, or security. 'Trieb' means more of an innate inner force or an instinct that pushes a living being toward a behavior. The word sounds more biological and often stronger. Learners may confuse the words because both can explain why someone wants or does something. In everyday language, people usually say 'Bedürfnis'; 'Trieb' fits better when talking about instincts or basic behavior.
Bei Tieren ist der Trieb zur Nahrungssuche oft sehr stark.
In animals, the drive to search for food is often very strong.
Viele Kinder haben ein starkes Bedürfnis nach Aufmerksamkeit.
Many children have a strong need for attention.