to revive / resuscitate
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to resuscitate
To bring back to life a person who is unconscious, no longer breathing, or has had a cardiac arrest through medical measures.
Die Rettungssanitäter konnten den Mann nach dem Unfall erfolgreich wiederbeleben.
The paramedics were able to successfully resuscitate the man after the accident.
Although it begins with 'wieder-' (again), 'wiederbeleben' (to revive/resuscitate) is an inseparable verb. The stress is on '-leben', and the prefix is never separated from the verb in a sentence.
Er hat die alte Diskussion wiederbelebt.
He revived the old discussion.
The word consists of 'wieder' (again) and 'beleben' (to bring to life / to enliven). The literal meaning is therefore 'to make alive again', which applies to both main meanings.
Ein alter Brauch wurde für das Festival wiederbelebt.
An old custom was revived for the festival.
The context makes the meaning clear. If people, patients, or animals are being discussed, the medical meaning is intended. With abstract things like traditions, the economy, or a discussion, it refers to the figurative meaning.
Die Ärzte versuchten, den Patienten wiederzubeleben.
The doctors tried to resuscitate the patient.
In the figurative meaning, the verb is often used with abstract nouns, for example: 'eine Tradition wiederbeleben' (to revive a tradition), 'die Wirtschaft wiederbeleben' (to revive the economy), 'eine Freundschaft wiederbeleben' (to revive a friendship), or 'einen alten Plan wiederbeleben' (to revive an old plan).
Nach dem Streit versuchten sie, ihre Freundschaft wiederzubeleben.
After the argument, they tried to revive their friendship.
to save / rescue
'retten' and 'wiederbeleben' can both have to do with a life-threatening situation. 'retten' is more general: you get someone out of danger or help before something bad happens. 'wiederbeleben' is more specific and medical: a person is no longer breathing or has had a cardiac arrest, and someone tries to bring them back to life. Learners may confuse the words because resuscitation can be a kind of rescue. But not every rescue is a resuscitation.
Nach dem Unfall versuchte die Ärztin, den Mann wiederzubeleben.
After the accident, the doctor tried to resuscitate the man.
Die Feuerwehr konnte das Kind aus dem brennenden Haus retten.
The fire department was able to rescue the child from the burning house.