aufwendig
complicated · elaborate
Es beschreibt etwas, das viel Zeit, Arbeit oder Material braucht.
The German word "aufwendig" is an adjective meaning "elaborate", "labor-intensive", or "costly" (in terms of effort, time, or resources). It’s made up of:
- "auf" (prefix meaning "up" or "on") – excluded per instruction
- "wendig" (derived from "wenden") meaning "turning" or "flexible".
Similar words:
- "aufwändig" (synonym spelling, often interchangeable)
- "kostspielig" (costly)
- "anspruchsvoll" (demanding, challenging)
- "arbeitsintensiv" (labor-intensive)
Differences:
"Aufwendig" emphasizes that something requires considerable effort or resources and can be used broadly beyond just costs, while "kostspielig" strictly refers to monetary cost. "Anspruchsvoll" stresses difficulty or high standards, and "arbeitsintensiv" focuses specifically on high labor input.
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Examples
Eine solche Reparatur kann sehr aufwendig sein.adjective
Such a repair can be very complicated.
Die Vorbereitungen sind aufwendig und zeitintensiv.adjective
The preparations are elaborate and time-consuming.
Die aufwendige Dekoration machte den Saal wirklich besonders.adjective
The elaborate decoration made the hall really special.
Wir mussten wegen der aufwendigen Planung den Termin verschieben.adjective
We had to postpone the appointment because of the elaborate planning.
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