to look around
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to look around
To turn your head and upper body in order to look at your surroundings or at something behind you.
Sie schaute sich nervös um, weil sie ein Geräusch gehört hatte.
She looked around nervously because she had heard a noise.
'Umschauen' (to look around) is a separable verb. The prefix 'um-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Schau dich mal um, die Aussicht ist fantastisch!
Look around, the view is fantastic!
This verb is always reflexive, so it needs a reflexive pronoun (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch). You cannot just say 'umschauen'; you must always say 'sich umschauen' (to look around).
Ich schaue mich kurz im Laden um, vielleicht finde ich ein Geschenk.
I'll look around the shop briefly; maybe I'll find a gift.
When you are looking for something (a job, apartment, etc.), use the fixed expression 'sich nach etwas umschauen' (to look around for something). The preposition 'nach' is essential here.
Wir schauen uns nach einer größeren Wohnung um.
We're looking around for a bigger apartment.
When you are exploring a place, you often use the preposition 'in' followed by a place in the dative. The phrase is then 'sich in einem Ort umschauen' (to look around in a place).
Die Touristen schauten sich neugierig in der Altstadt um.
The tourists looked around the old town curiously.
to search / look for
'suchen' and 'sich umschauen' can both fit when you want to find or discover something. 'suchen' sounds more goal-oriented: you usually know what you need, for example an apartment, a job, or a specific object. 'sich umschauen' is more open and less fixed. You gather information, look at offers, or get to know a place without having to decide right away. The words can be confused when talking about apartments, jobs, or shopping. As a memory aid: someone who 'sucht' often has a clear goal; someone who 'sich umschaut' first wants to get an overview.
Hannah schaut sich auf der Messe um, weil sie neue Ideen für ihr Büro sammeln möchte.
Hannah is looking around at the trade fair because she wants to collect new ideas for her office.
Lisa sucht seit zwei Wochen eine kleine Wohnung in der Nähe ihrer Arbeit.
Lisa has been looking for a small apartment near her work for two weeks.