Describing Symptoms Objectively | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: At a clinic reception, one adult describes mild discomfort, when it happens, and how it affects concentration at work..

EN → DE / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Describing Symptoms Objectively to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Die Beschwerden sind leicht, halten aber länger als gewöhnlich an.

dee beh-SHVAIR-den zint lykht, HAL-ten AH-ber LENG-er als guh-VURN-likh ahn. The discomfort is mild, but it has lasted longer than usual.
B

Verändert es sich bei Bewegung, in Ruhe oder nach dem Essen?

fer-EN-dairt ess zikh bye beh-VOH-goong, in ROO-uh OH-der nahkh dame ESS-en? Does it change with activity, rest, or meals?
A

Ich bemerke es stärker, wenn ich lange sitze.

ikh beh-MAIR-kuh ess SHTAIR-ker, venn ikh LAHNG-uh ZIT-suh. I notice it more when I sit for a long time.
B

Dieses Muster sollte man erwähnen, und die behandelnde Fachkraft kann es richtig beurteilen.

DEE-zes MUS-ter ZOLL-tuh mahn air-VAIN-en, oont dee beh-HAHN-deln-duh FAKH-kraft kahn ess RIKH-tikh beh-OO-tie-len. That pattern is worth mentioning, and the clinician can assess it properly.
A

Ich versuche, es zu beschreiben, ohne es schlimmer oder weniger ernst erscheinen zu lassen, als es ist.

ikh fer-ZOO-khuh, ess tsoo beh-SHRYE-ben, OHN-uh ess SHLIM-er OH-der VAY-nih-ger AIRNST er-SHYNE-en tsoo LAHS-en, als ess ist. I am trying to describe it without making it sound worse or less serious than it is.
B

Konzentrieren Sie sich darauf, wie oft es auftritt und wie es Sie beeinträchtigt.

kohnt-sen-TREE-ren zee zikh dah-ROUF, vee oft ess OUF-tritt oont vee ess zee beh-INE-traykh-tikt. Focus on how often it happens and how it affects you.
A

Ich kann erklären, dass es mir schwerer fällt, mich bei der Arbeit zu konzentrieren.

ikh kahn air-KLAIR-en, dass ess meer SHVAIR-er felt, mikh bye dare AR-bite tsoo kohnt-sen-TREE-ren. I can explain that it makes it harder to concentrate at work.
B

Nennen Sie dieses Detail, da die tägliche Beeinträchtigung oft die weitere Behandlung bestimmt.

NEN-en zee DEE-zes duh-TYLE, dah dee TAYK-li-khuh beh-INE-traykh-ti-goong oft dee VY-ter-uh beh-HAHND-loong beh-SHTIMT. Include that detail, since daily impact often guides follow-up.

Word by Word

Die ‘Die’ means “the” in ‘Die Beschwerden’ and introduces the discomfort being discussed. It is used directly before the noun in this phrase.
Beschwerden ‘Beschwerden’ refers here to physical discomfort or complaints. In ‘Die Beschwerden sind leicht’, it identifies the symptoms being described objectively.
sind ‘Sind’ means “are” in ‘Die Beschwerden sind leicht’ and links the symptoms with their description. It agrees with the plural subject ‘Die Beschwerden’.
leicht ‘Leicht’ means “mild” here, describing the intensity of the discomfort. A useful pattern is ‘Die Beschwerden sind leicht’ when reporting symptoms without exaggerating them.
halten In ‘halten aber länger als gewöhnlich an’, ‘halten ... an’ means “last” or “continue”. The verb is separated in this sentence, with ‘an’ at the end.
aber ‘Aber’ means “but” and contrasts the mild intensity with the unusually long duration. It connects the two parts of ‘Die Beschwerden sind leicht, halten aber länger als gewöhnlich an’.
länger ‘Länger’ means “longer” and compares the duration with what is usual. It appears in the pattern ‘länger als gewöhnlich’.
als ‘Als’ means “than” in the comparison ‘länger als gewöhnlich’. It introduces the standard used for the comparison.
gewöhnlich ‘Gewöhnlich’ means “usual” or “normally” here and provides the expected duration for comparison. The reusable pattern is ‘länger als gewöhnlich’.
an In ‘halten aber länger als gewöhnlich an’, ‘an’ completes the separable verb ‘anhalten’, meaning to last or continue. It appears at the end because the verb is separated in this sentence.
Verändert ‘Verändert’ means “changes” in the question ‘Verändert es sich bei Bewegung, in Ruhe oder nach dem Essen?’. It asks whether the discomfort becomes different under different conditions.
es ‘Es’ means “it” and refers to the discomfort in ‘Verändert es sich’. It keeps the symptom as the subject of the question.
sich ‘Sich’ is the reflexive part of ‘Verändert es sich’, meaning that the discomfort changes itself or changes in its characteristics. A reusable pattern is ‘es verändert sich’ for something that changes.
bei ‘Bei’ means “with” or “during” in ‘bei Bewegung’ and asks about the symptom during activity. It commonly appears before a situation or activity being considered.
Bewegung ‘Bewegung’ means “movement” or “activity” here. In ‘bei Bewegung’, it names one condition under which the discomfort may change.
in ‘In’ means “in” in the expression ‘in Ruhe’. Together, the expression refers to a state of rest.
Ruhe ‘Ruhe’ means “rest” or a state without activity in ‘in Ruhe’. The reusable expression is ‘in Ruhe’ when describing what happens while resting.
oder ‘Oder’ means “or” and presents another possibility in the question. It links ‘in Ruhe’ with ‘nach dem Essen’.
nach ‘Nach’ means “after” in ‘nach dem Essen’. It places the possible change after the meal.
dem ‘Dem’ means “the” in the phrase ‘nach dem Essen’. It is the article used with the noun after ‘nach’ in this expression.
Essen ‘Essen’ refers to eating or a meal in ‘nach dem Essen’. The phrase describes what happens after eating.
Ich ‘Ich’ means “I” and identifies the speaker in ‘Ich bemerke es stärker’. It is used as the subject of the speaker’s observation.
bemerke ‘Bemerke’ means “notice” in ‘Ich bemerke es stärker’. It describes the speaker becoming aware of the discomfort, and the pattern is ‘Ich bemerke es’.
stärker ‘Stärker’ means “more strongly” here and shows that the speaker notices the discomfort more intensely in a particular situation. It modifies the observation in ‘Ich bemerke es stärker’.
wenn ‘Wenn’ means “when” and introduces the situation in which the speaker notices the discomfort more. In the clause beginning with ‘wenn’, the verb comes at the end.
lange ‘Lange’ means “for a long time” in ‘wenn ich lange sitze’. It describes the duration of sitting before the discomfort is noticed more strongly.
sitze ‘Sitze’ means “sit” in ‘wenn ich lange sitze’. It describes the speaker’s position and is used at the end of the subordinate clause after ‘wenn’.
Dieses ‘Dieses’ means “this” in ‘Dieses Muster’ and points back to the pattern just described. It identifies the observed relationship between sitting and noticing the discomfort.
Muster ‘Muster’ means “pattern” and refers to the repeated relationship between sitting for a long time and noticing the discomfort more strongly. ‘Dieses Muster’ is useful when summarizing an observed symptom pattern.
sollte ‘Sollte’ means “should” in ‘Dieses Muster sollte man erwähnen’. It gives a recommendation to mention the pattern.
man ‘Man’ means “one” or “people in general” in ‘sollte man erwähnen’. It expresses general advice without naming a particular person.
erwähnen ‘Erwähnen’ means “mention” in ‘Dieses Muster sollte man erwähnen’. It is the action recommended in the pattern ‘sollte man ... erwähnen’.
und ‘Und’ means “and” and links the recommendation to the statement about the clinician. It joins two related pieces of information in the same sentence.
behandelnde ‘Behandelnde’ describes the Fachkraft as the person providing care or treatment. In ‘die behandelnde Fachkraft’, it specifies which professional is meant.
Fachkraft ‘Fachkraft’ means a qualified professional or clinician in this clinic context. ‘Die behandelnde Fachkraft’ is the person who can assess the reported pattern.
kann ‘Kann’ means “can” in ‘kann es richtig beurteilen’ and expresses the clinician’s ability to assess the pattern. The infinitive ‘beurteilen’ follows it at the end of the clause.
richtig ‘Richtig’ means “properly” or “correctly” in ‘richtig beurteilen’. It describes how the clinician can assess the symptom pattern.
beurteilen ‘Beurteilen’ means “assess” or “evaluate” in ‘kann es richtig beurteilen’. It refers to the clinician evaluating the reported pattern rather than the speaker making a diagnosis.
versuche ‘Versuche’ means “am trying” in ‘Ich versuche, es zu beschreiben’. It presents the speaker’s effort to describe the symptoms accurately.
zu ‘Zu’ introduces the infinitive in ‘zu beschreiben’ and marks the action the speaker is trying to carry out. The reusable pattern is ‘Ich versuche, ... zu’ followed by an infinitive.
beschreiben ‘Beschreiben’ means “describe” in ‘es zu beschreiben’. It refers to giving an objective account of the discomfort, and it follows ‘versuche’ with ‘zu’.
ohne ‘Ohne’ means “without” in ‘ohne es schlimmer oder weniger ernst erscheinen zu lassen’. It introduces something the speaker wants to avoid while describing the symptoms.
schlimmer ‘Schlimmer’ means “worse” in ‘es schlimmer ... erscheinen zu lassen’. It describes an appearance of greater severity that the speaker does not want to create.
weniger ‘Weniger’ means “less” in ‘weniger ernst erscheinen zu lassen’. It describes an appearance of lower seriousness that the speaker also wants to avoid.
ernst ‘Ernst’ means “serious” in ‘weniger ernst erscheinen’. It describes how serious the discomfort may seem in the speaker’s account.
erscheinen ‘Erscheinen’ means “appear” or “seem” in ‘schlimmer oder weniger ernst erscheinen zu lassen’. The expression concerns how the symptoms may appear to another person.
lassen In ‘erscheinen zu lassen’, ‘lassen’ means “let” or “make” and expresses causing something to appear a certain way. Here, the speaker does not want to make the discomfort seem worse or less serious than it is.
ist ‘Ist’ means “is” in ‘als es ist’ and refers to the actual seriousness of the discomfort. The phrase compares how something appears with how it really is.
Konzentrieren ‘Konzentrieren’ means “focus” in the formal instruction ‘Konzentrieren Sie sich darauf’. It tells the listener to direct attention to the frequency and effect of the symptom.
Sie ‘Sie’ means formal “you” in ‘Konzentrieren Sie sich darauf’ and ‘Nennen Sie dieses Detail’. It addresses the patient politely in an instruction.
darauf ‘Darauf’ means “on that” in ‘Konzentrieren Sie sich darauf’. Here, it points to the information that follows about how often the symptom occurs and how it affects the person.
wie ‘Wie’ means “how” in ‘wie oft es auftritt’ and ‘wie es Sie beeinträchtigt’. It introduces information about the manner, frequency, or effect of the symptom.
oft ‘Oft’ means “often” in ‘wie oft es auftritt’. Together with ‘wie’, it asks about the frequency of the symptom.
auftritt ‘Auftritt’ means “occurs” or “appears” in ‘wie oft es auftritt’. It describes when the symptom happens, and the prefix remains attached in this subordinate clause.
beeinträchtigt ‘Beeinträchtigt’ means “affects” or “impairs” in ‘wie es Sie beeinträchtigt’. It asks about the practical effect of the symptom on the person.
erklären ‘Erklären’ means “explain” in ‘Ich kann erklären’. It introduces the information the speaker is able to give about the symptom’s effect.
dass ‘Dass’ means “that” and introduces the content of the explanation in ‘erklären, dass es mir schwerer fällt’. It connects the act of explaining with the information being explained.
mir ‘Mir’ means “to me” or “for me” in ‘es mir schwerer fällt’. It identifies the person who experiences the difficulty.
schwerer ‘Schwerer’ means “harder” in ‘es mir schwerer fällt’. It compares concentrating with the person’s usual level of ease.
fällt In ‘es mir schwerer fällt’, ‘fällt’ is part of the expression ‘es fällt mir schwer’, meaning that something is difficult for me. Here, concentrating is more difficult for the speaker.
mich ‘Mich’ means “myself” in ‘mich bei der Arbeit zu konzentrieren’. It is the reflexive object used with the action of concentrating.
der ‘Der’ means “the” in ‘bei der Arbeit’. It introduces the work setting in which concentration is affected.
Arbeit ‘Arbeit’ means “work” in ‘bei der Arbeit’. The phrase identifies the setting where the speaker finds it harder to concentrate.
Nennen ‘Nennen’ means “mention” or “include” in the formal instruction ‘Nennen Sie dieses Detail’. It asks the listener to provide the relevant information.
Detail ‘Detail’ means “detail” in ‘Nennen Sie dieses Detail’. It refers to the specific information about the symptom’s daily effect.
da ‘Da’ means “since” or “because” in ‘da die tägliche Beeinträchtigung oft die weitere Behandlung bestimmt’. It introduces the reason for including the detail.
tägliche ‘Tägliche’ means “daily” in ‘die tägliche Beeinträchtigung’. It describes the effect as something related to everyday life.
Beeinträchtigung ‘Beeinträchtigung’ means “impairment” or “impact” in ‘die tägliche Beeinträchtigung’. It refers to how the discomfort affects daily functioning.
weitere ‘Weitere’ means “further” or “subsequent” in ‘die weitere Behandlung’. It describes care or treatment that follows the initial assessment.
Behandlung ‘Behandlung’ means “treatment” or follow-up care in ‘die weitere Behandlung’. The phrase refers to the care that may be guided by the reported daily impact.
bestimmt ‘Bestimmt’ means “determines” or “guides” in ‘die tägliche Beeinträchtigung oft die weitere Behandlung bestimmt’. It says that the daily impact often helps determine the subsequent treatment.

Grammar Points

halten ... an

Die Beschwerden halten gewöhnlich länger an.

dee beh-SHVAIR-den HAL-ten guh-VURN-likh LENG-er ahn.

The discomfort usually lasts longer.

Bei trennbaren Verben steht die Vorsilbe im Hauptsatz am Satzende: halten ... an.

Es fällt jemandem schwer, ... zu + Infinitiv

Es fällt mir schwerer, mich zu konzentrieren.

ess felt meer SHVAIR-er, mikh tsoo kohnt-sen-TREE-ren.

It is harder for me to concentrate.

Nach „es fällt ... schwer“ steht der Infinitiv mit „zu“; das Reflexivpronomen lautet hier „mich“.

German Vocabulary

anhalten verb
AHN-hahl-ten to last; to continue halten ... an

Die Beschwerden ... halten ... an.

bemerken verb
beh-MAIR-ken to notice bemerke

Ich bemerke es stärker.

Beschwerde noun
beh-SHVAIR-duh discomfort; complaint Beschwerden

Die Beschwerden sind leicht.

Bewegung noun
beh-VOH-goong activity; movement

bei Bewegung

Essen noun
ESS-en meal; eating

nach dem Essen

gewöhnlich adv
guh-VURN-likh usual; ordinarily

länger als gewöhnlich

lang adj
lahng long länger

halten aber länger als gewöhnlich an

leicht adj
lykht mild; slight

Die Beschwerden sind leicht.

Ruhe noun
ROO-uh rest

in Ruhe

sich verändern verb
zikh fer-EN-durn to change Verändert es sich

Verändert es sich bei Bewegung?

sitzen verb
ZIT-sen to sit sitze

wenn ich lange sitze

stark adv
shtahrk strong; intensely stärker

Ich bemerke es stärker.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

discomfort; complaint

Show AnswerBeschwerden

long

Show Answerlänger

activity; movement

Show AnswerBewegung

rest

Show AnswerRuhe