schonen

Meaning in English

schonen means to spare, to be gentle on, to treat carefully, or to avoid harming/using up something.

Common uses:

• jemanden/etwas schonen = to spare someone/something; to treat someone/something gently
• die Nerven schonen = to spare one’s nerves (avoid stress)
• die Umwelt/Ressourcen schonen = to conserve the environment/resources
• sich schonen = to take it easy; to rest and avoid strain (often for health reasons)

Word parts / structure

• schon- relates to the idea of being careful, sparing, gentle (linked in meaning to schon = “already” in modern German, but historically related to “gentle/careful” in this verb).
• -en is the standard infinitive ending for German verbs.

German synonyms (depending on context)

• verschonen (to spare; often “to leave untouched”)
• bewahren (to preserve)
• sparen (to save, economize)
• entlasten (to relieve, lessen the burden)
• rücksichtsvoll behandeln (to treat considerately)
• sich ausruhen / sich zurückhalten (for sich schonen: to rest / to hold back)

German antonyms (depending on context)

• belasten (to strain, burden)
• strapazieren (to overtax)
• ausnutzen (to exploit, use up)
• verbrauchen (to consume)
• schädigen (to damage, harm)
• quälen (to torment; in the “not sparing someone” sense)