lower leg
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lower leg
The part of the human leg located between the knee and the ankle.
Nach dem Foul hatte der Fußballspieler starke Schmerzen im Unterschenkel.
After the foul, the soccer player had severe pain in his lower leg.
The word is a clear compound of 'unter' (lower / under) and 'Schenkel' (thigh / leg segment). It refers to the lower part of the leg, in contrast to the upper part.
Beim Wandern hat sie sich am Unterschenkel verletzt.
She injured her lower leg while hiking.
The counterpart to 'Unterschenkel' (lower leg) is 'Oberschenkel' (thigh), the part of the leg between the hip and the knee. Together, both words describe the main parts of the leg.
Der Arzt untersuchte sowohl den Ober- als auch den Unterschenkel.
The doctor examined both the upper and lower leg.
This word is often used in medical or sports contexts. Typical verbs and phrases are 'sich den Unterschenkel brechen' (to break one's lower leg), 'Schmerzen im Unterschenkel haben' (to have pain in the lower leg), or 'eine Wunde am Unterschenkel versorgen' (to treat a wound on the lower leg).
Der Läufer spürte nach dem Marathon einen Krampf im Unterschenkel.
After the marathon, the runner felt a cramp in his lower leg.
leg
'das Bein' and 'der Unterschenkel' are both parts of the body and have to do with walking and standing. 'Bein' means the whole limb, from the upper part down to the foot. 'Unterschenkel' is only a specific part of the leg, namely between the knee and the ankle. Learners may confuse the words because the lower leg is part of the leg. When you are speaking generally about pain, injuries, or movement, 'Bein' is often suitable. When the exact location is important, 'Unterschenkel' is more precise.
Für die Untersuchung tastet die Ärztin den rechten Unterschenkel vorsichtig ab.
For the examination, the doctor carefully feels the right lower leg.
Beim Fußball hat sich Max am Bein verletzt und kann heute nicht trainieren.
Max injured his leg while playing soccer and can't train today.