verkraften
to cope with
To cope with and process a difficult emotional or psychological situation.
EXAMPLE
Es hat lange gedauert, bis sie die Trennung verkraftet hat.
It took a long time before she coped with the breakup.
verkraften
to cope with / withstand
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Meanings
verkraften
to withstand
To be able to bear or withstand a financial or material burden.
EXAMPLE
Die kleine Firma konnte die hohen Verluste nicht verkraften.
The small company could not withstand the high losses.
verkraften
to withstand
To withstand physical exertion or strain without being harmed.
EXAMPLE
Sein alter Körper konnte die schwere Operation nicht mehr verkraften.
His old body could no longer withstand the serious operation.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verkraften' (to cope with / withstand) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Ich hoffe, er verkraftet die schlechte Nachricht gut.
I hope he copes with the bad news well.
Word structure
The word contains the stem 'Kraft' (strength). 'Verkraften' (to cope with / withstand) therefore means to muster the necessary emotional, financial, or physical strength to deal with a burden.
EXAMPLE
Sie musste all ihre Kraft aufwenden, um den Verlust zu verkraften.
She had to use all her strength to cope with the loss.
Use with accusative
'Verkraften' (to cope with / withstand) is a transitive verb and always requires an accusative object. You always cope with or withstand 'etwas' (something).
EXAMPLE
Die Firma konnte den finanziellen Schaden nicht verkraften.
The company could not withstand the financial damage.
Context clue
The context makes clear what kind of burden is meant. Emotional events such as a shock or disappointment, financial burdens such as costs or losses, or physical strain such as an illness or training determine the exact meaning.
EXAMPLE
Er konnte die Kritik an seiner Arbeit nur schwer verkraften.
He found it hard to cope with the criticism of his work.
Compare with
verkraften vs fassen
to grasp / catch
After a shock, both “fassen” and “verkraften” can express that someone is unable to cope with something. “Fassen” emphasizes that an event is emotionally incomprehensible, while “verkraften” highlights a person's resilience and ability to cope with the situation. Use “fassen” for the sense of something being impossible to take in, and “verkraften” for longer-lasting emotional strain.
verkraften
Nach dem plötzlichen Unfall konnte die Familie die Folgen nur schwer verkraften.
After the sudden accident, the family found it difficult to cope with the consequences.
fassen
Nach dem plötzlichen Unfall konnte die Familie die Nachricht kaum fassen.
After the sudden accident, the family could barely take in the news.
In real life
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