inconvenience
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inconvenience
A circumstance or situation that is perceived as disruptive, bothersome, or unpleasant and causes minor difficulties or discomfort. It is often used in the plural to apologize for a disruption.
Wir bitten, die durch die Bauarbeiten entstandenen Unannehmlichkeiten zu entschuldigen.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the construction work.
The word is made up of several parts: The prefix 'un-' negates the adjective 'angenehm' (pleasant), which comes from 'annehmen' (to accept). The ending '-keit' turns the adjective 'unangenehm' (unpleasant) into a noun.
Eine kleine Verspätung ist keine große Unannehmlichkeit.
A short delay is not a major inconvenience.
'Unannehmlichkeit' (inconvenience) is a rather formal and polite word. It is often used in official notices or in customer service to apologize for disruptions.
Wir entschuldigen uns für jegliche Unannehmlichkeiten, die Ihnen dadurch entstehen.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
The word is very often used in the plural 'Unannehmlichkeiten' (inconveniences). This often happens in formal apologies to ask forgiveness in a general way for all disruptions and problems that have occurred.
Aufgrund der Renovierung kann es zu Lärm und anderen Unannehmlichkeiten kommen.
Due to the renovation, there may be noise and other inconveniences.
Common verbs used with this noun are 'Unannehmlichkeiten bereiten' (to cause inconvenience), 'verursachen' (to cause), or 'vermeiden' (to avoid). The fixed expression is often 'sich für die Unannehmlichkeiten entschuldigen' (to apologize for the inconvenience).
Wir möchten Ihnen keine Unannehmlichkeiten bereiten.
We do not want to cause you any inconvenience.
problem
'das Problem' and 'die Unannehmlichkeit' can both describe something difficult or disruptive. 'Problem' is stronger and more general: it can be a real difficulty, an open question, or even a personal worry. 'Unannehmlichkeit' means something more like an inconvenience or something unpleasant that is disruptive, but usually not very serious. The word often sounds polite or formal, especially in apologies. Learners may confuse the words because both are negative. As a simple guide: a problem is something you have to solve; an inconvenience is something you want to avoid or apologize for.
Die Firma hat sich entschuldigt, weil die Verspätung viele Unannehmlichkeiten verursacht hat.
The company apologized because the delay caused many inconveniences.
Herr Weber hat im Zug ein Problem mit seinem Ticket.
Mr. Weber has a problem with his ticket on the train.