01
überblicken
to survey
To have a broad visual overview of a landscape or area from an elevated point.
example
Vom Gipfel des Berges kann man das gesamte Tal überblicken.
From the summit of the mountain, you can survey the entire valley.
überblicken
to survey / grasp
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Überblicken' (to survey/grasp/scan) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'über-' remains firmly connected to the verb 'blicken' in all sentence forms and tenses.
EXAMPLE
Er überblickt die Situation von seinem Büro aus.
He surveys the situation from his office.
Common mistake
A typical mistake is to separate this verb incorrectly. A formulation like 'Er blickt die Lage über' is wrong. The prefix 'über-' must always remain at the beginning of the verb.
EXAMPLE
Können Sie die bisherigen Ergebnisse kurz überblicken?
Can you briefly scan the results so far?
Context clue
The object of the verb reveals the meaning. A geographical place ('das Tal' — the valley) points to the visual meaning, an abstract concept ('die Folgen' — the consequences) to mental understanding, and a text ('die Notizen' — the notes) to quickly looking through something.
EXAMPLE
Vom Turm aus überblickt man die ganze Altstadt.
From the tower, you can survey the whole old town.
Typical collocations
In the figurative meaning of understanding, 'überblicken' (to grasp) is often used with abstract nouns such as 'die Lage' (the situation), 'die Situation' (the situation), 'die Kosten' (the costs), or 'die Konsequenzen' (the consequences).
EXAMPLE
Als Projektmanagerin muss sie immer alle Kosten überblicken.
As a project manager, she always has to grasp all the costs.
Compare with
überblicken vs verstehen
to understand
'verstehen' and 'überblicken' can both mean that you mentally grasp something. 'verstehen' also works for small or individual pieces of information, for example a sentence or a rule. 'überblicken' is used more for larger or complex topics. It means that you see the most important parts and recognize how they are organized. You do not have to know every detail. If you grasp the meaning of an explanation, you 'verstehen' it. If you can grasp the basic outlines of an entire project or a difficult situation, you 'überblicken' it.
überblicken
Nach dem Gespräch überblickt das Team die nächsten Schritte besser.
After the conversation, the team has a better overview of the next steps.
verstehen
Heute verstehe ich im Gespräch, was du gestern gemeint hast.
Today, in our conversation, I understand what you meant yesterday.
In real life
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