rubble / ruins
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rubble / ruins
The remains and fragments of something that has been destroyed, especially buildings, cities, or vehicles after a war, an explosion, or a natural disaster.
Nach dem Erdbeben lag die ganze Stadt in Trümmern.
After the earthquake, the whole city lay in ruins.
to lie in ruins
In a fixed expression, used to describe a state of complete destruction or the failure of something abstract, such as a life, a relationship, or hopes.
Nach der Trennung lag ihr Leben in Trümmern.
After the breakup, her life lay in ruins.
The word 'Trümmer' (rubble/ruins) is used almost exclusively in the plural because it describes a quantity of fragments. Therefore, people always say 'den Trümmern' (the rubble/ruins), not 'dem Trümmer'.
Die Feuerwehr suchte in den Trümmern des Hauses nach Überlebenden.
The fire department searched for survivors in the rubble of the house.
The expression 'in Trümmern liegen' (to lie in ruins) is very common. It describes a state of complete destruction, both for concrete things such as buildings and figuratively for abstract things.
Nach dem Sturm lag das ganze Dorf in Trümmern.
After the storm, the whole village lay in ruins.
In connection with real rubble, verbs such as 'beseitigen' (to remove), 'aufräumen' (to clean up), or 'bergen' (to rescue/recover), e.g. 'eine Person aus den Trümmern bergen' (to rescue a person from the rubble), are often used.
Freiwillige halfen dabei, die Trümmer von der Straße zu räumen.
Volunteers helped clear the rubble from the street.
When 'Trümmer' (rubble/ruins) is used figuratively, it refers to the failure of something abstract. Typical combinations are 'ein Leben in Trümmern' (a life in ruins), 'eine Ehe in Trümmern' (a marriage in ruins), or 'Träume in Trümmern' (dreams in ruins).
Nach dem Bankrott stand er vor den Trümmern seiner Existenz.
After the bankruptcy, he was left facing the ruins of his existence.
ruin
Both words refer to the remains of a destroyed building. A Ruine is usually still recognizable as a structure and contains standing sections of the building, whereas Trümmer emphasizes individual or scattered fragments. When referring to the surviving remains of a building, Ruine is appropriate; for scattered fragments, Trümmer is appropriate.
Nach der Explosion lagen die Trümmer der alten Burg überall auf dem Hügel.
After the explosion, the rubble from the old castle was scattered all over the hill.
Auf dem Hügel steht noch die Ruine der alten Burg.
The ruins of the old castle still stand on the hill.
