jemandem etwas zufügen
to inflict
To cause someone something negative, such as pain, damage, suffering, or an injury.
EXAMPLE
Der Täter hat dem Opfer erhebliche Verletzungen zugefügt.
The perpetrator inflicted serious injuries on the victim.
zufügen
to inflict / to add
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Meanings
zufügen
to add
To add something to an already existing amount or mixture. Often used in the context of recipes or chemical processes.
EXAMPLE
Zum Schluss wird der Soße noch eine Prise Salz zugefügt.
At the end, a pinch of salt is added to the sauce.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Zufügen' (to inflict / to add) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zu' is separated from the verb in a main clause and placed at the end of the sentence. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er fügte dem Gericht noch etwas Pfeffer zu.
He added a little more pepper to the dish.
Dative and accusative object
This verb almost always requires two objects. The person or thing to which something is added or done is in the dative. What is added or inflicted is in the accusative. The structure is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) zufügen.
EXAMPLE
Der Sturm hat dem Haus (Dativ) großen Schaden (Akkusativ) zugefügt.
The storm inflicted great damage (accusative) on the house (dative).
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'etwas Negatives verursachen' (to cause something negative), 'zufügen' is always combined with negative nouns. Common collocations are 'Schaden zufügen' (to cause damage), 'Schmerzen zufügen' (to cause pain), 'Leid zufügen' (to cause suffering), or 'eine Niederlage zufügen' (to inflict a defeat).
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, dass du dir selbst keine Verletzung zufügst.
Be careful that you don't inflict an injury on yourself.
Context: cooking & recipes
In the meaning of 'hinzufügen' (to add), the verb is very often used in recipes or cooking instructions. Here the objects are neutral things such as ingredients, spices, or liquids.
EXAMPLE
Fügen Sie der Suppe eine Prise Muskatnuss zu.
Add a pinch of nutmeg to the soup.
Compare with
zufügen vs hinzufügen
to add
In a recipe, both hinzufügen and zufügen can describe adding an ingredient. Hinzufügen is the neutral and usual choice, whereas zufügen is less common and sounds more elevated in this sense. Both words are possible when an ingredient is added to an existing mixture.
zufügen
Ich füge der Suppe kurz vor dem Servieren frische Kräuter zu.
I add fresh herbs to the soup shortly before serving.
hinzufügen
Ich füge der Suppe kurz vor dem Servieren frische Kräuter hinzu.
I add fresh herbs to the soup shortly before serving.
In real life
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