to undergo
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to undergo
To subject oneself to a usually unpleasant, difficult, or necessary procedure, examination, or treatment. It expresses that one goes through something.
Der Patient musste sich einer komplizierten Operation unterziehen.
The patient had to undergo a complicated operation.
The verb 'unterziehen' (to undergo) is inseparable. The prefix 'unter-' remains firmly attached to the verb 'ziehen' in all sentence forms and tenses and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
Er unterzieht sich morgen der Prüfung.
He is undergoing the exam tomorrow.
This verb requires a fixed grammatical structure: It is always reflexive ('sich unterziehen'), and the thing one goes through is always in the dative. The person appears as the subject at the beginning.
Die Sportler müssen sich einer strengen Dopingkontrolle unterziehen.
The athletes have to undergo a strict doping test.
The verb is typically used with medical or formal procedures. Common combinations are: 'sich einer Operation unterziehen' (to undergo an operation), 'sich einer Behandlung unterziehen' (to undergo treatment), 'sich einer Prüfung unterziehen' (to undergo an examination), or 'sich einer Kontrolle unterziehen' (to undergo an inspection/check).
Alle neuen Mitarbeiter müssen sich einer Sicherheitsüberprüfung unterziehen.
All new employees have to undergo a security check.
'Sich etwas unterziehen' (to undergo something) belongs to formal language and is often used in medical, legal, or administrative contexts. It sounds more elevated and official.
Der Zeuge musste sich einer langen Befragung unterziehen.
The witness had to undergo a long questioning.
to abandon / suspend / expose
Sich etwas aussetzen emphasizes exposure to a danger or potentially harmful influence. Sich einer Sache unterziehen, by contrast, means going through a usually unpleasant or necessary procedure, examination, or treatment. The key question is therefore whether the focus is on the exposure or on the procedure.
Für die Diagnose unterzieht sich der Patient einer Röntgenuntersuchung.
For the diagnosis, the patient undergoes an X-ray examination.
Bei der Untersuchung setzt sich der Patient einer geringen Strahlung aus.
During the examination, the patient is exposed to a low level of radiation.
