herabsehen
look down · look down on
Jemanden als weniger wert ansehen und das auch zeigen, oft aus Stolz oder Arroganz.
The German word "herabsehen" is a separable verb composed of:
- herab — meaning "down" (towards the speaker or a lower position)
- sehen — meaning "to see"
Meaning: "Herabsehen" means "to look down (on)," often in both a literal sense (looking downward) and a figurative sense (to look down on someone, implying disdain or condescension).
Similar words:
- herabschauen — also "to look down at"
- herablassen — figuratively "to condescend" or “stoop to”
- verachten — "to despise" (stronger negative judgement)
- über jemanden urteilen — "to judge someone"
Differences:
- Herabsehen specifically implies the act of looking down, often with a condescending attitude, but focuses more on the viewpoint or attitude.
- Verachten is stronger, involving contempt rather than just a condescending look.
- Herablassen emphasizes the act of condescending behavior.
- Herabschauen is very close in literal meaning, but less used figuratively.
Summary: "herabsehen" = to look down on someone (literally or figuratively), implying condescension.
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Examples
Sie sah auf das Tal herab.verb
She looked down at the valley.
Warum siehst du auf Menschen mit weniger Geld herab?verb
Why do you look down on people with less money?
Die Lehrer sollten nicht auf ihre Schüler herabsehen.verb
Teachers should not look down on their students.
Von dem hohen Turm sahen die Touristen neugierig auf die Stadt herab.verb
From the tall tower, the tourists looked down curiously at the city.
Früher sahen manche Leute auf körperliche Arbeit herab, heute aber nicht mehr.verb
In the past, some people looked down on physical labor, but not anymore.
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