zeigen
to show
To make something visible to someone by pointing to it or holding it up for them.
EXAMPLE
Können Sie mir bitte den Weg zum Bahnhof auf der Karte zeigen?
Could you please show me the way to the train station on the map?
zeigen
to show
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Meanings
zeigen
to show
To let a quality, feeling, or reaction be seen or to express it.
EXAMPLE
Er hat großes Interesse an dem Projekt gezeigt.
He showed great interest in the project.
zeigen
to show
To prove, demonstrate, or make something clear.
EXAMPLE
Die Ergebnisse der Umfrage zeigen einen klaren Trend.
The results of the survey show a clear trend.
sich zeigen
to appear
To become visible or appear.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Regen zeigte sich endlich wieder die Sonne.
After the long rain, the sun finally appeared again.
zeigen
to report
Colloquial for 'to report someone to the police'.
EXAMPLE
Wegen der Sachbeschädigung hat sie den Nachbarn gezeigt.
Because of the property damage, she reported the neighbor.
Usage tips
Dative and accusative
'Zeigen' (to show) is very often used with two objects: a person in the dative (to whom you show something) and a thing in the accusative (what you show). The order is usually dative before accusative.
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer zeigt den Schülern (Dativ) ein Experiment (Akkusativ).
The teacher shows the students (dative) an experiment (accusative).
Reflexive: 'sich zeigen'
In the reflexive form 'sich zeigen' (to appear / to become visible), the verb means 'erscheinen' (to appear) or 'sichtbar werden' (to become visible). The subject is often something that could not be seen before.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Regen zeigte sich ein Regenbogen am Himmel.
After the rain, a rainbow appeared in the sky.
Colloquial meaning
In colloquial language, 'jemanden zeigen' can mean to report someone to the police. This usage should be avoided in formal contexts.
EXAMPLE
Wegen der wiederholten Ruhestörung hat er seinen Nachbarn gezeigt.
Because of the repeated noise disturbance, he reported his neighbor.
Feelings and reactions
To express that one lets a feeling or attitude be seen, 'zeigen' (to show) is combined with abstract nouns. Typical phrases are: Interesse zeigen (to show interest), Verständnis zeigen (to show understanding), Mut zeigen (to show courage), or Wirkung zeigen (to show an effect).
EXAMPLE
Der Sportler zeigte großen Kampfgeist.
The athlete showed great fighting spirit.
With facts and data
When demonstrating facts, the subject is often impersonal, such as a study or a result. Often a subordinate clause with 'dass' (that) or 'wie' (how) follows.
EXAMPLE
Die Erfahrung zeigt, dass diese Methode am effektivsten ist.
Experience shows that this method is the most effective.
Pointing with a preposition
When physically pointing to something, the preposition 'auf' (+ accusative) is often used. You can point at something with your finger or show someone something on a plan.
EXAMPLE
Sie zeigte auf das Bild an der Wand.
She pointed at the picture on the wall.
Compare with
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zeigen vs laufen
to run
With a film, both words can describe the same process, but from a different perspective. zeigen presents the cinema or the projectionist as the person performing the action, while laufen makes the film itself, as the thing being shown, the subject. Choose the word that fits the subject of the sentence.
zeigen
Das Kino zeigt heute Abend denselben Film wie gestern.
The cinema is showing the same film tonight as it did yesterday.
laufen
Derselbe Film läuft heute Abend noch einmal im Kino.
The same film is showing at the cinema again tonight.
In real life
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