01
wirken
to seem
To make a certain impression or to look as if one had a certain quality.
example
Obwohl sie nervös war, wirkte sie nach außen hin sehr ruhig.
Although she was nervous, she seemed very calm on the outside.
wirken
to seem / take effect
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Meanings
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Usage tips
False friend
'Wirken' does not mean 'to work' in the sense of having a job. If you want to say 'I work at a bank,' you have to say 'Ich arbeite bei einer Bank.' 'Wirken' describes an effect or a creative activity.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder arbeitet als Ingenieur bei einer großen Firma.
My brother works as an engineer at a large company.
Word family
'Wirken' is closely related to 'die Wirkung' (the effect) and 'wirklich' (real/really). All of these words have the core idea that something has an effect or creates reality.
EXAMPLE
Die Wirkung des Medikaments setzte schnell ein.
The effect of the medication set in quickly.
Sentence structure and use
To describe an impression, you use the structure 'wirken + adjective' or 'wirken wie + noun.' It describes how someone or something seems to others.
EXAMPLE
Du wirkst heute sehr nachdenklich.
You seem very thoughtful today.
Correct preposition
When something has an effect, 'wirken' is often used with prepositions. You say 'wirken gegen etwas' (to work against something, e.g. an illness) or 'wirken auf etwas' (to have an effect on something).
EXAMPLE
Dieser Tee wirkt gut gegen Erkältungen.
This tea works well against colds.
Register and context
This meaning of 'wirken' is mostly used for creative or intellectual activities by important people, such as artists, scientists, or authors. It sounds more elevated than 'arbeiten' (to work).
EXAMPLE
Die Philosophin Hannah Arendt wirkte viele Jahre in den USA.
The philosopher Hannah Arendt was active in the USA for many years.
Compare with
wirken vs arbeiten
to work
'arbeiten' and 'wirken' can both describe someone or something being active or having an effect. 'arbeiten' is used very often for work, activity, or technical processes. 'wirken' is used when something has an effect on someone or something, for example a medicine. In addition, in elevated language, 'wirken' can mean that someone is active in a particular field. The words can be confusing because both can be connected with activity. In everyday language, 'arbeiten' is usually more natural for people and tasks. 'wirken' fits better when the effect is the main focus.
wirken
Die Tablette wirkt schnell gegen die Kopfschmerzen.
The tablet works quickly against the headache.
arbeiten
Der Arzt hat heute bis spät am Abend gearbeitet.
The doctor worked until late this evening.
In real life
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