ignorance
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ignorance
The state in which someone lacks knowledge, expertise, or information about a particular matter.
Aus reiner Unwissenheit hat er einen schweren Fehler gemacht.
Out of sheer ignorance, he made a serious mistake.
The word is clearly structured: the prefix 'un-' negates the noun 'Wissen' (knowledge). The ending '-heit' turns it into an abstract noun that describes the state of not knowing.
Sein Handeln war nicht böswillig, sondern entsprang reiner Unwissenheit.
His behavior was not malicious, but came from sheer ignorance.
'Unwissenheit' (ignorance) is an uncountable noun and is almost always used in the singular. It describes the general state or quality of not knowing something.
Unwissenheit ist oft die Wurzel von Vorurteilen.
Ignorance is often the root of prejudice.
To indicate the reason for an action, the preposition 'aus' is used very frequently. The fixed phrase is 'aus Unwissenheit' (out of ignorance).
Er hat die giftigen Pilze aus Unwissenheit gegessen.
He ate the poisonous mushrooms out of ignorance.
The sentence 'Unwissenheit schützt vor Strafe nicht' (ignorance of the law is no excuse) is a fixed legal principle and a well-known saying. It is always quoted in this form.
Du kannst nicht einfach im Halteverbot parken und sagen, du wusstest es nicht. Unwissenheit schützt vor Strafe nicht.
You can't just park in a no-parking zone and say you didn't know. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
knowledge
'die Kenntnis' and 'die Unwissenheit' are clear opposites. 'Kenntnis' means that someone has knowledge, skills, or information about something. It is often used in the plural as 'Kenntnisse', for example with languages or technology. 'Unwissenheit' means that this knowledge or information is missing. So 'Kenntnis' fits when someone knows about something; 'Unwissenheit' fits when someone does not know something or is not informed.
Aus Unwissenheit hat Paul das Formular falsch ausgefüllt.
Out of ignorance, Paul filled out the form incorrectly.
Für diese Arbeit braucht man gute Kenntnisse in Deutsch und Englisch.
For this job, you need good skills in German and English.