das Türchen
little door
A small door or small closable opening, for example in a cupboard, flap, or wall.
EXAMPLE
Hinter dem Türchen im Schrank lag ein alter Schlüssel.
An old key was lying behind the little door in the cupboard.
das Türchen
little door
das Türchen, die Türchen
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Meanings
das Türchen
Advent calendar door
A small compartment or closable flap in an Advent calendar that is opened on a particular day.
EXAMPLE
Heute darf Lina das vierte Türchen am Adventskalender öffnen.
Today, Lina is allowed to open the fourth door on the Advent calendar.
sich ein Türchen offenhalten
to keep an option open
To preserve an opportunity or option for later without making a final commitment now.
EXAMPLE
Mit seiner vorsichtigen Antwort hielt er sich ein Türchen für eine spätere Zusammenarbeit offen.
With his cautious answer, he kept an option open for working together in the future.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Türchen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Türchen |
| genitive | des Türchens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Türchen | die Türchen |
| accusative | das Türchen | die Türchen |
| dative | dem Türchen | den Türchen |
| genitive | des Türchens | der Türchen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Türchen' (little door) consists of 'Tür' (door) and the diminutive suffix '-chen'. The suffix shows that it is a small door or small opening.
EXAMPLE
Das kleine Türchen unter der Treppe ließ sich nur schwer öffnen.
The little door under the stairs was difficult to open.
Advent calendars
In the context of an Advent calendar, 'Türchen' (little door) is often used with verbs such as 'öffnen' (to open), 'aufmachen' (to open), or 'entdecken' (to discover), together with a day number.
EXAMPLE
Am ersten Dezember öffneten die Kinder gemeinsam das erste Türchen.
On December 1, the children opened the first door together.
Fixed expression
In the expression 'sich ein Türchen offenhalten' (to keep an option open), the reflexive pronoun is in the dative: 'ich halte mir' (I keep open for myself), 'du hältst dir' (you keep open for yourself), 'sie hält sich' (she keeps open for herself). What opportunity someone preserves for themselves is often introduced with 'für' (for).
EXAMPLE
Ich halte mir noch ein Türchen für eine Rückkehr in meinen alten Job offen.
I am still keeping an option open for returning to my old job.
In real life
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