die Rücksicht, -en
consideration
Das bedeutet, an andere Menschen zu denken und darauf zu achten, wie das eigene Verhalten sie beeinflusst.
Definition & meaning
Rücksicht means consideration, regard, or thoughtfulness toward other people and their needs. It describes taking someone else’s feelings, situation, rights, or interests into account before acting.
It can also mean regard for a particular circumstance or requirement:
- Er nimmt Rücksicht auf seine Nachbarn. — He is considerate of his neighbors.
- Bei der Planung muss man Rücksicht auf die Umwelt nehmen. — The environment must be taken into consideration when planning.
Depending on the context, Rücksicht can refer to:
- Consideration for people: behaving carefully so as not to disturb, hurt, or disadvantage others.
- Regard for circumstances or rules: taking a factor into account when making a decision.
Grammar & Word origin
- Gender: feminine
- Article: die Rücksicht
- Plural: die Rücksichten , usually only when referring to several considerations
- Common structure: Rücksicht auf jemanden/etwas nehmen — to take someone/something into consideration
The word is composed of rück (“back”) and Sicht (“sight” or “view”). Historically, it conveyed the idea of “looking back” or “looking around at what affects others.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- die Bedachtsamkeit — careful consideration; emphasizes acting thoughtfully
- die Achtsamkeit — attentiveness and awareness, often broader and less specifically social
- die Schonung — consideration intended to avoid harming or overburdening someone
- der Respekt — respect for someone’s dignity, rights, or boundaries; not always equivalent to practical consideration
- die Beachtung — taking something into account, often used for rules, facts, or instructions
Antonyms
- die Rücksichtslosigkeit — lack of consideration; the direct antonym
- der Egoismus — self-centeredness, especially when one’s own interests are placed above others’
- die Ignoranz — disregard or deliberate failure to acknowledge something
- die Unachtsamkeit — carelessness or lack of attentiveness
Common phrases & collocations
- Rücksicht nehmen auf jemanden/etwas — to take someone or something into consideration
- aus Rücksicht auf jemanden/etwas — out of consideration for someone or something
- ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste — regardless of the consequences; literally “without regard for losses”
- gegenseitige Rücksicht — mutual consideration
- Rücksicht auf die Gefühle anderer nehmen — to be considerate of other people’s feelings
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Examples
Er zeigt keine Rücksicht gegenüber anderen.noun
He shows no consideration towards others.
Er zeigt wenig Rücksicht im Umgang mit seinen Kollegen.noun
He shows little consideration in dealing with his colleagues.
Bitte nimm mehr Rücksicht.noun
Please show more consideration.
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