in Kauf nehmen
To accept (negative consequences)
حرفيًا: to take into purchase
Use this when you consciously accept a specific downside to gain a bigger advantage.
في 15 ثانية
- Accepting a downside to get a bigger benefit.
- A calculated trade-off in everyday life and business.
- Used when the 'pros' clearly outweigh the 'cons'.
المعنى
This phrase is used when you consciously accept a disadvantage, risk, or negative side effect because the overall goal or benefit is worth it.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Buying a cheap flight
Für den günstigen Preis nehme ich die lange Wartezeit in Kauf.
For the low price, I'll accept the long wait time.
Career move
Sie nimmt den langen Arbeitsweg für ihren Traumjob in Kauf.
She accepts the long commute for her dream job.
Texting a friend about a party
Die Musik ist laut, aber das nehme ich für die gute Stimmung in Kauf!
The music is loud, but I'll deal with it for the great atmosphere!
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase has its roots in the mercantile language of the Middle Ages. It reflects a business-minded approach to life where every 'deal'—whether personal or professional—is analyzed for its costs and benefits. It remains one of the most common ways Germans express the concept of a 'trade-off'.
The 'Sandwich' Rule
Always put the negative thing you are accepting between 'Kauf' and 'nehmen' (or before 'in Kauf'). It's like the bad news is the filling of a sandwich.
Don't go shopping!
Even though it contains the word 'Kauf' (purchase), this has nothing to do with going to the supermarket. Don't use 'einkaufen' by mistake!
في 15 ثانية
- Accepting a downside to get a bigger benefit.
- A calculated trade-off in everyday life and business.
- Used when the 'pros' clearly outweigh the 'cons'.
What It Means
Imagine you find the perfect apartment. It is huge, sunny, and cheap. The only problem? It is right next to a noisy train station. You think about it and decide: "The apartment is so great that I will deal with the noise." In German, you would say you nehmen the noise in Kauf. It is all about trade-offs. You aren't happy about the negative part, but you accept it as part of the deal. It is the verbal equivalent of saying, "Well, you can't have everything!"
How To Use It
This is a fixed collocation, meaning these words love to hang out together. The structure is simple: [Something negative] in Kauf nehmen. You put the bad thing right in the middle. Remember that nehmen is the verb that does all the work. If you are talking about the past, it becomes nahm in Kauf or hat in Kauf genommen. For example, if you are texting a friend about a long hike, you might say: "I'll accept the sore feet for this view." In German: Ich nehme den Muskelkater für diese Aussicht in Kauf. Just don't forget that the negative thing needs to be in the accusative case!
When To Use It
You will hear this everywhere. Use it when you are making a calculated decision. It is perfect for career talk, like accepting a long commute for a better salary. It is great for travel, like taking a slow train to save money. You can even use it in relationships—maybe your partner is a terrible cook, but they are incredibly kind. You nehmen the bad cooking in Kauf. It shows you are being realistic and pragmatic about a situation.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for things you actually enjoy. You wouldn't say you nehmen a delicious dessert in Kauf. It is strictly for the 'bitter pill' you have to swallow. Also, avoid using it for major life tragedies. It sounds a bit too calculated and cold for that. If something terrible happens by accident, you don't "take it into purchase" because you didn't choose the deal. Use it only when there is a choice involved where you weigh the pros against the cons.
Cultural Background
This phrase perfectly captures the stereotypical German pragmatism. It comes from the world of commerce. Think of a merchant looking at a shipment of silk. The silk is beautiful, but the delivery is two days late. The merchant "takes that into the purchase" because the silk will still sell for a high price. Germans love to analyze situations and be honest about the downsides. We don't like to sugarcoat things; we prefer to acknowledge the flaw and move forward anyway. It is about being a "Realist."
Common Variations
In very formal or legal contexts, you might hear etwas billigend in Kauf nehmen. This is a heavy-duty version. It means you didn't necessarily want the bad thing to happen, but you knew it was a possibility and you did it anyway. You’ll see this in news reports about reckless driving or corporate decisions. For your daily coffee chats, though, the standard in Kauf nehmen is more than enough to make you sound like a pro.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The phrase is neutral and very common in both spoken and written German. Be careful with the word order in subordinate clauses: '...weil ich das Risiko in Kauf nehme.'
The 'Sandwich' Rule
Always put the negative thing you are accepting between 'Kauf' and 'nehmen' (or before 'in Kauf'). It's like the bad news is the filling of a sandwich.
Don't go shopping!
Even though it contains the word 'Kauf' (purchase), this has nothing to do with going to the supermarket. Don't use 'einkaufen' by mistake!
The Pragmatic German
Using this phrase makes you sound very grounded. It shows you've weighed the options and aren't just complaining blindly.
أمثلة
6Für den günstigen Preis nehme ich die lange Wartezeit in Kauf.
For the low price, I'll accept the long wait time.
A classic travel trade-off scenario.
Sie nimmt den langen Arbeitsweg für ihren Traumjob in Kauf.
She accepts the long commute for her dream job.
Shows a conscious professional sacrifice.
Die Musik ist laut, aber das nehme ich für die gute Stimmung in Kauf!
The music is loud, but I'll deal with it for the great atmosphere!
Casual use among friends.
Er ist toll, also nehme ich seine Vorliebe für Socken in Sandalen in Kauf.
He's great, so I accept his preference for socks in sandals.
Using the phrase for a funny personal quirk.
Wir müssen das Risiko eines Verlusts in Kauf nehmen.
We must accept the risk of a loss.
Formal business decision-making.
Ich nehme den Verzicht auf Zucker für meine Gesundheit in Kauf.
I accept giving up sugar for the sake of my health.
Expressing a personal health goal.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the correct form of the phrase.
Ich ___ den Regen ___, weil ich unbedingt spazieren gehen will.
The phrase is 'in Kauf nehmen', and 'nehme' is the first-person singular conjugation.
Which word is missing in this common expression?
Für meine Karriere habe ich viel Stress in ___ genommen.
The fixed expression is always 'in Kauf nehmen', never 'Einkauf' (shopping) or 'Verkauf' (sale).
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality Spectrum of 'in Kauf nehmen'
Accepting a cold pizza because you're hungry.
Ist okay, nehm ich in Kauf.
Accepting a long commute for a job.
Ich nehme den Weg in Kauf.
Accepting market risks in a company report.
Das Unternehmen nimmt das Risiko in Kauf.
When to use 'in Kauf nehmen'
Travel
Cheap flights with 3 layovers.
Relationships
A partner who snores but is lovely.
Career
High salary but lots of overtime.
Technology
A fast phone with a short battery life.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNo, not at all. It means you tolerate it because the alternative (not getting the benefit) is worse. It's a compromise.
Usually, you use it for a person's specific traits or habits, like ihre Unpünktlichkeit in Kauf nehmen, rather than the person themselves.
Akzeptieren is more general. In Kauf nehmen specifically implies a trade-off where you get something good in return for the bad.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or with your best friend. It's very versatile.
Forgetting the word in. You cannot just say Ich nehme den Lärm Kauf. It must be in Kauf.
No. You only 'take into purchase' things that are annoying, risky, or difficult.
You change nehmen to hat genommen. For example: Ich habe den Stau in Kauf genommen.
This is a legalistic term meaning you knowingly accepted a negative outcome as a possibility. It's very formal.
No, despite the word Kauf, it is used for time, effort, emotions, and risks just as much as for money.
Yes! If the context is already clear, you can use es to refer to the negative situation.
عبارات ذات صلة
sich abfinden mit
to come to terms with / resign oneself to
in den sauren Apfel beißen
to bite the bullet (do something unpleasant but necessary)
ein Opfer bringen
to make a sacrifice
den Preis zahlen
to pay the price
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