reasonable / acceptable
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reasonable / acceptable
Describes a requirement, task, or situation that can reasonably be imposed on or expected of a person without overwhelming them.
Es ist nicht zumutbar, von den Mitarbeitern zu verlangen, unbezahlte Überstunden zu leisten.
It is not reasonable to expect employees to work unpaid overtime.
The word is derived from the verb 'jemandem etwas zumuten' (to expect someone to put up with something / to impose something on someone). The ending '-bar' means that something is possible. 'Zumutbar' (reasonable/acceptable) is therefore something that one can reasonably 'zumuten' (expect of/impose on) someone.
Diese Aufgabe kann man einem Anfänger nicht zumuten.
You can't expect a beginner to do this task.
This adjective is very often used in its negated form: 'nicht zumutbar' (not reasonable/acceptable) or as a separate word, 'unzumutbar' (unreasonable/unacceptable). This expresses that a requirement or situation is unacceptable.
Bei diesem Lärm zu arbeiten, ist unzumutbar.
Working in this noise is unacceptable.
'Zumutbar' (reasonable/acceptable) is often used in a construction with a dative object that indicates the person for whom something is or is not reasonable. A typical sentence structure is 'Es ist [Person im Dativ] (nicht) zumutbar, ... zu tun' (It is (not) reasonable for [person in the dative] to do ...).
Es ist mir nicht zumutbar, diese schwere Kiste allein zu tragen.
It is not reasonable for me to carry this heavy box alone.
acceptable
Akzeptabel and zumutbar can both express that a burden is still okay. Akzeptabel describes general acceptance of a situation; zumutbar asks more specifically what it is reasonable to demand of a particular person. That is why zumutbar is often the better choice for working conditions or deadlines.
Die zusätzliche Arbeitsstunde ist den Beschäftigten an diesem Tag noch zumutbar.
The additional hour of work is still reasonable for the employees on that day.
Der neue Arbeitsplan ist für das Team akzeptabel, obwohl er einige Änderungen bringt.
The new work schedule is acceptable to the team, even though it involves some changes.
