eine Beziehung pflegen
To maintain a relationship
直訳: to nurse/groom a relationship
Use this phrase to show you are intentionally investing time and energy into a meaningful connection.
15秒でわかる
- Actively maintaining a bond through effort and time.
- Used for friends, partners, and professional business networking.
- Implies a deep, long-term commitment to keeping a connection.
意味
This phrase describes the active, intentional effort you put into keeping a connection healthy and strong. It is like watering a plant; you don't just have it, you actively tend to it so it doesn't wither.
主な例文
3 / 6Talking about high school friends
Ich versuche, die Beziehung zu meinen alten Schulfreunden zu pflegen.
I try to maintain the relationship with my old school friends.
In a professional business meeting
Wir müssen die Beziehung zu unseren Geschäftspartnern in Japan pflegen.
We must maintain the relationship with our business partners in Japan.
Texting a partner after a busy week
Lass uns am Wochenende mal wieder unsere Beziehung pflegen!
Let's nurture our relationship again this weekend!
文化的背景
In Germany, social circles are often hard to enter but very stable once you are in. The concept of 'Beziehungspflege' reflects the German preference for long-term reliability over short-term networking. It highlights the idea that social capital is something built through consistent, honest effort over years.
The 'Garden' Rule
Always remember the verb `pflegen` is also used for gardening (`den Garten pflegen`). If you imagine your friend as a rosebush, you'll never forget the word!
Don't be too clinical
While neutral, saying this too often in a romance can make it sound like a chore. Balance it with warmer words like 'Zeit verbringen' (spend time).
15秒でわかる
- Actively maintaining a bond through effort and time.
- Used for friends, partners, and professional business networking.
- Implies a deep, long-term commitment to keeping a connection.
What It Means
Think of your relationships like a garden. If you stop watering the flowers, they die. eine Beziehung pflegen is the German way of saying you are doing the watering. It implies that a connection requires work, time, and attention. It is not a passive state of 'being' together. It is the active process of staying in touch and showing care.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when talking about long-term bonds. It works for romance, business, or deep friendships. You usually use the verb pflegen with the accusative object eine Beziehung. You can also use it with Kontakte (contacts) or Freundschaften (friendships). It sounds thoughtful and mature. It shows you value the person you are talking about.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing your social life or professional networking. It is perfect for a performance review at work. You might say you are good at 'nursing' client bonds. Use it with your partner during a deep talk. It shows you are committed to the long haul. It is also great for explaining why you are visiting an old friend.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for casual, one-time encounters. If you just met someone at a bar, you are not 'nursing' a relationship yet. It feels too heavy for a first date. Also, avoid it for purely transactional moments. You do not 'pflegen' a relationship with the person who sells you bread once a year. It implies a level of depth and continuity.
Cultural Background
Germans take 'Pflege' (care/maintenance) very seriously. This applies to cars, gardens, and especially social ties. There is a cultural value placed on 'Beständigkeit' (consistency). Germans often prefer a few deep, well-maintained friendships over many shallow ones. The word pflegen is also used for nursing the sick. This suggests that relationships can be fragile and need protection.
Common Variations
You will often hear Kontakte pflegen in a professional setting. This means networking or staying in the loop. Freundschaften pflegen is the most common version for your private life. If you want to sound poetic, you can say die Liebe pflegen. This sounds like you are a character in a romantic novel. Just don't overdo the drama at the office!
使い方のコツ
The phrase is highly versatile and fits into almost any register. Just be careful not to use it for very short-term or superficial acquaintances, as it implies a level of care and history.
The 'Garden' Rule
Always remember the verb `pflegen` is also used for gardening (`den Garten pflegen`). If you imagine your friend as a rosebush, you'll never forget the word!
Don't be too clinical
While neutral, saying this too often in a romance can make it sound like a chore. Balance it with warmer words like 'Zeit verbringen' (spend time).
The German 'Stammtisch'
A classic way Germans 'pflegen' relationships is the 'Stammtisch'—a regular's table at a pub where friends meet at the same time every week for decades.
例文
6Ich versuche, die Beziehung zu meinen alten Schulfreunden zu pflegen.
I try to maintain the relationship with my old school friends.
Shows a conscious effort to stay in touch despite the time passed.
Wir müssen die Beziehung zu unseren Geschäftspartnern in Japan pflegen.
We must maintain the relationship with our business partners in Japan.
Focuses on professional networking and long-term cooperation.
Lass uns am Wochenende mal wieder unsere Beziehung pflegen!
Let's nurture our relationship again this weekend!
A sweet way to suggest spending quality time together.
Ich pflege momentan eher die Beziehung zu meiner Kaffeemaschine.
Currently, I'm mostly maintaining my relationship with my coffee machine.
Uses the formal phrase in a funny, relatable context.
Es ist wichtig, auch die Beziehung zu sich selbst zu pflegen.
It is important to also nurture the relationship with oneself.
Refers to self-care and internal emotional health.
Ich fahre nach Berlin, um eine wichtige Beziehung zu pflegen.
I am going to Berlin to nurture an important relationship.
Gives a purposeful reason for a visit.
自分をテスト
Choose the correct verb to complete the phrase about maintaining contacts.
In meinem Job muss ich viele geschäftliche Kontakte ___.
The verb `pflegen` is the standard collocation for maintaining social or professional ties.
Complete the sentence about a romantic relationship.
Wir nehmen uns Zeit, um unsere ___ zu pflegen.
`Beziehung` (relationship) is the most common object for this phrase in a personal context.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
Formality of 'eine Beziehung pflegen'
Used with close friends or partners.
Lass uns unsere Freundschaft pflegen!
Standard way to discuss social efforts.
Er pflegt seine Kontakte.
Used in business or official reports.
Die Pflege zwischenstaatlicher Beziehungen.
Where to use 'eine Beziehung pflegen'
Networking
Business lunch with a client.
Romance
A planned date night.
Family
Calling your grandma weekly.
Self-Care
Meditating or journaling.
よくある質問
11 問On its own, pflegen means to nurse, care for, or maintain. It is used for skin care (Hautpflege), nursing the sick (Krankenpflege), or maintaining a car.
No, it is very common in business. You often hear about Kundenbeziehungen pflegen (maintaining customer relationships).
Yes, you can say den Kontakt zu den Followern pflegen. It implies you are interacting with them regularly.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend without it sounding weird.
You can say Ich pflege die Beziehung nicht mehr. This sounds like a deliberate choice to let the connection fade.
The noun is Beziehungspflege. It is often used in psychology or business textbooks.
Yes, but only if you mean physical maintenance. You can ein Auto pflegen, but you wouldn't have a 'relationship' with it in this sense.
Etymologically they are different, but culturally they feel related. Maintaining a relationship is often seen as a social duty in Germany.
Learners often use machen (to make) instead. Don't say eine Beziehung machen. Always use pflegen or führen.
Not at all. It is a timeless, standard expression that people of all ages use.
It is perfect for that! Trotz der Distanz pflegen wir unsere Freundschaft (Despite the distance, we maintain our friendship).
関連フレーズ
Kontakte knüpfen (to make contacts/network)
In Verbindung bleiben (to stay in touch)
Sich um jemanden kümmern (to look after someone)
Eine Freundschaft vertiefen (to deepen a friendship)
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