bestehen

The German verb „bestehen“ has several meanings depending on the context:

• to exist (e.g., Das Problem besteht noch — The problem still exists)
• to pass (an exam) (e.g., Er hat die Prüfung bestanden — He passed the exam)
• to insist or persist (e.g., Sie besteht auf ihren Rechten — She insists on her rights)

The word is made up of „best-“ (root related to "stand") and „-stehen“ meaning "to stand".

Similar verbs:

• existieren (to exist),
• erfolgreich sein (to be successful, in context of exams),
• beharren (to insist).

Difference: While bestehen covers existence and success in passing (as well as insistence), existieren refers strictly to existence without other meanings; erfolgreich sein is positive success, more general than bestehen (exam-focused); beharren means insist/persist but without the sense of existence or passing.