trimmen
to trim
To bring something, especially hair, a beard, or a hedge, into the desired shape and shorten it by cutting.
EXAMPLE
Der Gärtner kommt zweimal im Jahr, um die Hecke zu trimmen.
The gardener comes twice a year to trim the hedge.
trimmen
to trim
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Meanings
sich trimmen
to get fit
To keep oneself physically fit through sports exercises.
EXAMPLE
Er geht jeden Morgen in den Park, um sich auf dem Trimm-dich-Pfad zu trimmen.
He goes to the park every morning to get fit on the fitness trail.
etwas auf etwas trimmen
to gear toward
To deliberately orient and train someone or something toward a specific goal, quality, or performance.
EXAMPLE
Die Software wurde auf maximale Effizienz getrimmt.
The software was geared toward maximum efficiency.
trimmen
to trim
In technology or sailing: to adjust something, such as a sail, aircraft, or boat, for optimal performance or balance.
EXAMPLE
Der Segler musste die Segel neu trimmen, als der Wind sich drehte.
The sailor had to trim the sails again when the wind shifted.
Usage tips
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning of 'trimmen' (to trim) from the sentence structure: 'sich trimmen' means to keep oneself fit. 'Etwas auf etwas trimmen' means to orient something toward a goal. Without these additions, it is usually about cutting hair or plants.
EXAMPLE
Er trimmt sich jeden Tag mit Joggen und Krafttraining.
He gets fit every day with jogging and strength training.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'kürzen' (to shorten), 'trimmen' (to trim) is typically used for things that grow. Common combinations are: 'den Bart trimmen' (to trim the beard), 'die Haare trimmen' (to trim the hair), or 'die Hecke trimmen' (to trim the hedge).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir die Spitzen meiner Haare ein wenig trimmen?
Can you trim the ends of my hair a little?
Reflexive use
When it is about physical fitness, 'trimmen' (to get fit) is always used reflexively: 'sich trimmen' (to get oneself fit). The reflexive pronoun is a fixed part of the expression here.
EXAMPLE
Viele Leute trimmen sich im Fitnessstudio.
Many people get fit at the gym.
Fixed preposition
To express that someone or something is being oriented toward a goal, you use the fixed construction 'jemanden/etwas auf etwas (Akkusativ) trimmen' (to gear someone/something toward something).
EXAMPLE
Der neue Mitarbeiter wurde von Anfang an auf Leistung getrimmt.
The new employee was geared toward performance from the beginning.
Specialist context
The meaning of 'justieren' (to adjust) is specialist language. It is used almost exclusively in sailing (sails), aviation (aircraft), or technical contexts.
EXAMPLE
Der Pilot muss das Flugzeug für den Landeanflug trimmen.
The pilot has to trim the aircraft for the landing approach.
Compare with
trimmen vs einstellen
to hire / adjust / stop
When referring to a sail, both verbs can express adjusting it to particular conditions. „Einstellen“ generally means adjusting it to achieve a desired state, while „trimmen“ in sailing emphasizes achieving the best possible balance or performance with particular precision. Use „trimmen“ in this technical context and „einstellen“ more generally.
trimmen
Der Segler trimmt das Segel für eine optimale Leistung bei starkem Wind.
The sailor trims the sail for optimal performance in strong winds.
einstellen
Der Segler stellt das Segel auf den stärker werdenden Wind ein.
The sailor adjusts the sail to the strengthening wind.
In real life
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