to refrain from / to fail to
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to refrain from
To deliberately not do something; to abstain from an action. This word is often used in formal requests or legal contexts.
Bitte unterlassen Sie das Fotografieren während der Vorstellung.
Please refrain from taking photographs during the performance.
'Unterlassen' (to refrain from / to fail to) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'unter-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'lassen' in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Er hat es unterlassen, sich für sein Verhalten zu entschuldigen.
He failed to apologize for his behavior.
This verb belongs to formal language. You often find it in official requests, prohibitions, or legal texts. In normal everyday conversation, it sounds very stiff.
Die Geschäftsführung bittet darum, das Rauchen im Eingangsbereich zu unterlassen.
Management requests that people refrain from smoking in the entrance area.
'Unterlassen' (to refrain from / to fail to) is often used with an accusative object or with an infinitive construction. The pattern is then: 'es unterlassen, etwas zu tun' (to fail/refrain to do something).
Unterlassen Sie bitte diese Störung!
Please stop this disturbance!
A very important and fixed collocation is 'unterlassene Hilfeleistung' (failure to render assistance). This is a criminal offense in Germany and describes the failure to help in an emergency.
Er wurde wegen unterlassener Hilfeleistung angeklagt.
He was charged with failure to render assistance.
to let / to have
'lassen' and 'unterlassen' can both mean that you do not do something. In everyday language, 'lassen' is very direct and is often used as a command: 'Lass das!' (Stop that!). 'unterlassen' sounds more formal and emphasizes that someone deliberately refrains from an action or does not do something expected. It often appears in rules, complaints, or legal texts. Learners may confuse the words because both express not doing something. For normal conversations, 'lassen' usually fits best. When it sounds strict, official, or like a clear obligation, 'unterlassen' fits better.
Der Mieter soll es unterlassen, nachts im Hausflur zu rauchen.
The tenant should refrain from smoking in the hallway at night.
Lass bitte die laute Musik, ich muss lernen.
Please stop playing the loud music; I have to study.