to turn to / devote
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to turn to
To direct one's attention or body toward someone or something; to occupy oneself with someone or something.
Nachdem er das Telefonat beendet hatte, wandte er sich wieder seinem Gast zu.
After he had ended the phone call, he turned back to his guest.
to give / devote
To let someone receive something, give something to someone, or devote something to someone, such as money, attention, or affection.
Die großzügige Spenderin wollte dem örtlichen Tierheim eine große Summe zuwenden.
The generous donor wanted to give a large sum to the local animal shelter.
'Zuwenden' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'zu' goes at the end. In a subordinate clause with a conjunction such as 'weil' (because) or 'dass' (that), the verb stays together.
Er wendet sich seinem nächsten Termin zu.
He turns to his next appointment.
The verb consists of the prefix 'zu-' (which indicates a direction, 'toward') and the verb 'wenden' (to turn, to direct). The word structure therefore directly reflects the meaning of directing attention toward something or someone.
Die Sonnenblumen wenden sich immer dem Licht zu.
Sunflowers always turn toward the light.
The grammar helps distinguish the meanings. The reflexive form 'sich zuwenden' means to direct one's attention (m01). The non-reflexive form 'jemandem etwas zuwenden' means to give something to someone (m02).
Die Lehrerin wandte sich dem neuen Schüler zu.
The teacher turned to the new student.
When you turn to someone or something, the construction is reflexive and the target of the attention is in the dative: sich (accusative) jemandem/etwas (dative) zuwenden.
Können Sie sich bitte diesem Problem zuwenden?
Could you please turn your attention to this problem?
to occupy / employ
Sich beschäftigen and sich zuwenden can both mean directing one's attention to a topic. Beschäftigen tends to emphasize sustained engagement, while zuwenden usually highlights the beginning or shift of attention. Beschäftigen is suitable for working on something over a longer period, while zuwenden often fits a new turn of attention.
Nach dem Vortrag wandte ich mich dem neuen Thema zu.
After the lecture, I turned my attention to the new topic.
Nach dem Urlaub beschäftigte ich mich mehrere Wochen mit dem neuen Thema.
After my vacation, I spent several weeks working on the new topic.
