outrage / absurdity
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outrage
Refers to a thing, idea, or situation that is perceived as completely absurd, impossible, or unacceptable.
Es ist ein Unding, dass wir für diesen Service extra bezahlen müssen.
It's an outrage that we have to pay extra for this service.
'Das Unding' consists of the prefix 'Un-' and the noun 'das Ding' (thing). Here, the prefix does not just mean 'not'; it also expresses a strongly negative judgment. An 'Unding' is therefore something that is considered wrong, absurd, or unacceptable and really should not exist.
Dass Kinder hungern müssen, ist ein Unding.
That children have to go hungry is an outrage.
To express outrage, 'Unding' is often used in fixed structures. Very common patterns are 'Es ist ein Unding, dass ...' (It is an outrage that ...) with a subordinate clause, or 'Es ist ein Unding, zu ...' (It is an outrage to ...) with an infinitive construction.
Es ist ein Unding, dass die Züge ständig Verspätung haben.
It's an outrage that the trains are constantly delayed.
When you describe something as an 'Unding' (outrage), it is not a neutral description. You are expressing strong personal disapproval, anger, or disbelief.
Seine Forderung nach noch mehr Geld ist ein absolutes Unding!
His demand for even more money is an absolute outrage!
The philosophical meaning is very rare and limited to academic texts. If you read or hear 'Unding' in a normal conversation or text, it always means 'inakzeptable Sache' (unacceptable thing).
Für den Philosophen war die Idee eines „nichts“ ein reines Unding.
For the philosopher, the idea of a 'nothing' was a pure impossibility.
nonsense
'Unsinn' and 'Unding' can both express that something is not reasonable or not acceptable. 'Unsinn' mainly means that a statement, idea, or action makes no sense. 'Unding' is stronger and judges a thing or situation as completely inappropriate, impossible, or unacceptable. The words can be confused because both express criticism. The difference is: 'Unsinn' is more about logic, while 'Unding' is more about acceptability. If something simply sounds wrong or stupid, 'Unsinn' fits. If something is an imposition, 'Unding' is a better fit.
In einer wichtigen E-Mail ist so ein Ton ein echtes Unding.
In an important email, that kind of tone is a real outrage.
Im Restaurant glaubte niemand den Unsinn, dass Wasser teurer als das Essen sein sollte.
In the restaurant, nobody believed the nonsense that water was supposed to be more expensive than the food.