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noun

das Bedürfnis, -se

need

Etwas, das ein Mensch braucht oder haben möchte, um sich wohlzufühlen oder zufrieden zu sein.

Definition & meaning

A Bedürfnis is a fundamental desire, requirement, or necessity. It describes a feeling of lacking something and the subsequent urge to satisfy that deficiency.

There are two primary ways this is used:

  1. Psychological or physical need: A state of deprivation that triggers an action to fulfill it, such as the need for food, sleep, or social connection.
  2. Personal desire or wish: A subjective preference or requirement, such as the need for quiet, security, or luxury.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It is a neuter noun (das Bedürfnis) and belongs to the weak declension in the plural (die Bedürfnisse).
  • Word origin: It is derived from the Middle High German bedürfen, which means "to need" or "to be in want of." The word is composed of the prefix be- (intensifying the verb) and dürfen (which, in its older sense, meant "to need" rather than its modern meaning of "to be allowed").

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • der Bedarf (a more objective requirement or demand for something)
  • das Verlangen (a strong desire or craving)
  • der Wunsch (a wish)
  • die Notwendigkeit (a necessity)
  • der Drang (an urge or impulse)

Antonyms:

  • die Sättigung (the state of being satisfied/satiated)
  • die Überflüssigkeit (the state of being superfluous)

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Examples

Das Bedürfnis nach Ruhe ist groß.noun

The need for rest is great.

Ein starkes Bedürfnis treibt ihn an, mehr zu lernen.noun

A strong need drives him to learn more.

Ein starkes Bedürfnis zu helfen treibt sie an.noun

A strong need to help drives her.

Sein Bedürfnis nach Ruhe ist verständlich.noun

His need for rest is understandable.

Obwohl er viel arbeitete, ignorierte er oft seine körperlichen Bedürfnisse.noun

Although he worked a lot, he often ignored his physical needs.

Hast du ein besonderes Bedürfnis, über das wir heute sprechen sollten?noun

Do you have a special need that we should talk about today?

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