resolution / intent / endpaper
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resolution
An intention or plan that you want to put into action. The term is often used for personal goals that you set for yourself at the beginning of a new year.
Mein guter Vorsatz für das neue Jahr ist, mehr Sport zu treiben.
My New Year's resolution is to exercise more.
The word 'Vorsatz' consists of 'vor' (before / in front of) and 'Satz' (sentence / setting). Figuratively, it describes something that you 'vor-setzt' yourself, that is, place in front of yourself as a goal. This logic connects the idea of a plan with that of a legal intention.
Er hat den Vorsatz gefasst, pünktlicher zu sein.
He made the resolution to be more punctual.
You can easily recognize the meaning from the context. Personal goals are often called 'gute Vorsätze' (good resolutions), especially in connection with the 'neues Jahr' (new year). The legal term is almost always used with the verb 'handeln' (to act) or in connection with a 'Gericht' (court) or a 'Straftat' (criminal offense).
Einer meiner guten Vorsätze ist, weniger Süßigkeiten zu essen.
One of my good resolutions is to eat fewer sweets.
When personal goals are involved, 'Vorsatz' (resolution) is often combined with certain verbs. You can say 'einen Vorsatz fassen' (to make a resolution), 'Vorsätze haben' (to have resolutions), 'Vorsätze umsetzen' (to implement resolutions), or 'seine Vorsätze brechen' (to break one's resolutions).
Es ist leicht, gute Vorsätze zu fassen, aber schwer, sie einzuhalten.
It is easy to make good resolutions, but hard to keep them.
In a legal context, 'Vorsatz' (intent) is almost always used in the fixed expression 'mit Vorsatz handeln' (to act with intent). The preposition 'mit' is crucial here and indicates the intentionality of an act.
Er hat die Fensterscheibe nicht aus Versehen, sondern mit Vorsatz zerstört.
He did not destroy the windowpane by accident, but with intent.
This meaning of 'Vorsatz' (intent) as intention in an action belongs to the technical language of the justice system and is rarely used in everyday life, except when talking about legal topics.
Im Prozess musste geklärt werden, ob Vorsatz vorlag.
In the trial, it had to be clarified whether intent was present.
goal / destination / target
'das Ziel' and 'der Vorsatz' both have to do with something you want to achieve or do. 'das Ziel' is usually a desired result, for example passing an exam or saving more money. 'der Vorsatz' is more strongly a personal intention: you decide to do something and want to change your behavior. People especially often talk about resolutions for the new year. Learners may confuse the words because a resolution often also contains a goal. In practical terms: the goal is the result; the resolution is the personal plan to do something toward it.
Nach dem Urlaub hat sie den Vorsatz, jeden Abend früher schlafen zu gehen.
After the vacation, she has resolved to go to sleep earlier every evening.
Mein Ziel ist es, bis zum Sommer besser Deutsch zu sprechen.
My goal is to speak German better by summer.