to attribute / assign
Loading your saved state.
to attribute
To assign or ascribe responsibility, a cause, or a certain quality to someone or something.
Der Erfolg des Projekts ist vor allem dem Teamleiter zuzurechnen.
The success of the project is primarily attributable to the team leader.
to classify
To regard and classify someone or something as part of a certain group, category, or genre.
Man kann diesen Autor der klassischen Moderne zurechnen.
This author can be classified as part of classical modernism.
to hold responsible
In a legal or psychological context, to assess whether a person can be held responsible for their actions. Often, criminal responsibility is examined.
Wegen einer schweren psychischen Störung konnte ihm die Tat nicht voll zugerechnet werden.
Because of a severe psychological disorder, he could not be held fully responsible for the act.
'Zurechnen' (to attribute/assign) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zu-' separates from the verb in main clauses and stands at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Man rechnet ihm diesen Fehler persönlich zu.
People attribute this mistake to him personally.
The verb 'zurechnen' (to attribute/assign) belongs to elevated or formal language. It is often found in academic, legal, or official texts, but rarely in everyday colloquial speech.
Die Studie rechnet die gestiegenen Kosten den neuen Umweltauflagen zu.
The study attributes the increased costs to the new environmental regulations.
When you ascribe a quality or responsibility to someone, use the structure: 'jemandem (Dativ) etwas (Akkusativ) zurechnen' (to attribute something to someone).
Man kann ihm einen gewissen Mut nicht absprechen, aber man muss ihm auch Leichtsinn zurechnen.
You cannot deny him a certain amount of courage, but you also have to attribute recklessness to him.
When you assign someone or something to a group, use the structure: 'jemanden/etwas (Akkusativ) zu einer Gruppe (Dativ) zurechnen' (to classify someone/something as belonging to a group).
Dieses Kunstwerk wird der Epoche des Barock zugerechnet.
This work of art is classified as belonging to the Baroque period.
In a legal or psychological context, people often examine whether an act 'zugerechnet werden kann' (can be attributed) to a person. This concerns 'Zurechnungsfähigkeit' (criminal responsibility / capacity for responsibility), meaning the question of whether someone is responsible for their actions.
Der Täter wurde als nicht zurechnungsfähig eingestuft.
The perpetrator was classified as not criminally responsible.
to assign
Zuordnen and zurechnen can treat someone or something as part of a category. Zuordnen neutrally describes assigning something to a group. Zurechnen focuses more on the assessment that someone or something belongs to that group.
Viele Kritiker rechnen den Roman der Jugendliteratur zu.
Many critics consider the novel part of young adult literature.
Die Bibliothekarin ordnet den Roman der Jugendliteratur zu.
The librarian classifies the novel as young adult literature.
