to destroy / undo
Loading your saved state.
to destroy / undo
To completely destroy or invalidate something, such as a hope, plan, or effort.
Der plötzliche Sturm hat alle unsere Vorbereitungen für das Gartenfest zunichte gemacht.
The sudden storm destroyed all our preparations for the garden party.
The adverb 'zunichte' is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'etwas zunichte machen' (to destroy/undo something). It appears at the end of the sentence or clause.
Ein einziger Fehler machte die ganze Arbeit zunichte.
A single mistake destroyed all the work.
The word is made up of 'zu' and 'nichte'. 'Nichte' is an old dative form of 'nichts' (nothing). So the expression literally means to make something 'into nothing'.
Der Verrat hat sein Vertrauen vollständig zunichte gemacht.
The betrayal completely destroyed his trust.
The expression 'zunichte machen' (to destroy/undo) is typically used with abstract nouns. Common objects are 'Hoffnungen' (hopes), 'Pläne' (plans), 'Mühe' (effort), 'Anstrengungen' (efforts), or 'ein Sieg' (a victory).
Die Absage hat ihre Hoffnung auf den Job zunichte gemacht.
The cancellation destroyed her hope of getting the job.
The expression 'zunichte machen' (to destroy/undo) belongs more to elevated written language. It sounds more formal and often more dramatic.
Die Wirtschaftskrise machte die Erfolge der letzten Jahre zunichte.
The economic crisis wiped out the successes of recent years.
void / insignificant
Both words can express that something no longer has any effect. “Nichtig” describes an already existing state of invalidity, while “zunichte machen” emphasizes that something causes this state and completely nullifies a plan or claim. Use “nichtig” for the state and “zunichte” for the act of nullifying something.
Der Fehler machte unseren Anspruch auf die Zahlung zunichte.
The mistake completely nullified our claim to payment.
Der Anspruch war von Anfang an nichtig und hatte keine Wirkung.
The claim was void from the outset and had no effect.
