basteln
craft
Etwas mit den Händen aus Papier, Holz oder anderen Materialien herstellen oder gestalten.
The German word "basteln" is a verb meaning "to craft" or "to tinker".
- It derives from the noun "Bast", which refers to natural fibers (such as those from linden or willow bark) traditionally used for weaving or crafting.
- "Basteln" involves making something by hand, often in a creative or improvised way, typically with materials at hand.
Similar words:
- werken (to work / to do handiwork)
- bauen (to build)
- handwerken (to do crafts or manual work)
Difference:
While "basteln" emphasizes crafting small, often decorative or hobby-related objects, "bauen" relates more to constructing larger or more technical things, and "werken" is broader, covering all sorts of manual work or handiwork.
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Examples
Wir basteln einen Papierflieger.verb
We are crafting a paper airplane.
Die Kinder basteln eine Karte.verb
The children are crafting a card.
Wir basteln heute Abend.verb
We are crafting this evening.
Lisa und Tom basteln Dekorationen für die Feier.verb
Lisa and Tom craft decorations for the celebration.
Gestern habe ich ein kleines Boot gebastelt.verb
Yesterday I crafted a small boat.
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