eine Entscheidung treffen
To make a decision
직역: To hit a decision
Always use 'treffen' with 'Entscheidung' to sound like a natural speaker, never 'machen'.
15초 만에
- The standard German way to say 'make a decision'.
- Uses the verb 'treffen' (to hit) instead of 'machen'.
- Appropriate for both casual chats and professional meetings.
뜻
This phrase is the standard German way to say you've finally picked an option. It’s like saying 'the choice has been made' after you've weighed your options.
주요 예문
3 / 6At a restaurant with a long menu
Ich kann mich nicht entscheiden, ich muss jetzt eine Entscheidung treffen.
I can't decide, I have to make a decision now.
In a formal business meeting
Wir müssen bis morgen eine endgültige Entscheidung treffen.
We must make a final decision by tomorrow.
Texting a friend about a trip
Hast du schon eine Entscheidung getroffen?
Have you made a decision yet?
문화적 배경
The phrase uses the verb 'treffen' (to hit/meet), which suggests reaching a target or a point of impact. This reflects a cultural value on decisiveness and the 'hitting' of a goal. It is a 'Funktionsverbgefüge' (functional verb phrase), a staple of structured German logic.
The 'Machen' Trap
English speakers often say 'eine Entscheidung machen'. This is a dead giveaway that you're translating literally from English. Stick to 'treffen'!
Add Adjectives
To sound more like a native, always put an adjective before 'Entscheidung'. Words like 'schnelle' (fast), 'einfache' (easy), or 'kluge' (smart) make you sound very fluent.
15초 만에
- The standard German way to say 'make a decision'.
- Uses the verb 'treffen' (to hit) instead of 'machen'.
- Appropriate for both casual chats and professional meetings.
What It Means
In German, you don't 'make' a decision like you do in English. You 'hit' or 'meet' one. The phrase eine Entscheidung treffen is a classic collocation. It describes the exact moment you stop thinking and start acting. It sounds more active and firm than just saying you're 'choosing' something. It implies a process has finished. You had options, you thought about them, and now you've arrived at the target.
How To Use It
You use the verb treffen which is irregular. In the present tense, it’s ich treffe, du triffst, and er/sie/es trifft. If you’re talking about the past, you’ll say ich habe eine Entscheidung getroffen. You can spice it up with adjectives. Use eine schwere Entscheidung for the tough stuff. Use eine schnelle Entscheidung when you're in a rush. It’s like building a LEGO set; the noun stays the same, but you can swap the 'action' parts around it.
When To Use It
This phrase is a total chameleon. Use it at a restaurant when the waiter is staring at you. Use it in a high-stakes business meeting about a merger. You can even use it when texting a friend about which party to attend. It fits anywhere you want to sound clear and decisive. It’s perfect for those 'adulting' moments. It shows you are taking responsibility for your choice.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for things that aren't really choices. You don't 'hit a decision' to breathe or blink. Also, avoid using it if you want to sound extremely casual or lazy. In those cases, just use the verb entscheiden. Most importantly, never say eine Entscheidung machen. That is 'Denglish' and will make a German speaker's ears wiggle in discomfort. It’s a common trap for English speakers, so stay sharp!
Cultural Background
Germans love their 'Funktionsverbgefüge.' That’s a fancy word for noun-verb combinations. Using a noun like Entscheidung with a specific verb like treffen makes you sound more educated. It reflects a cultural preference for precision and structure. Historically, German legal and bureaucratic language heavily influenced daily speech. This phrase is a survivor of that formal history. It’s now the gold standard for clear communication in the DACH region.
Common Variations
If you want to sound even more formal, try einen Entschluss fassen. That’s like 'making a resolution.' For simpler choices, you can say eine Wahl treffen. If you are struggling to decide, you might say ich kann keine Entscheidung treffen. If someone is pushing you, they might say Triff endlich eine Entscheidung! which means 'Finally make a choice!' It’s a versatile tool for your linguistic belt.
사용 참고사항
The phrase is neutral and highly versatile. It is safer to use in professional settings than the simple verb 'entscheiden', but it never feels out of place in casual conversation.
The 'Machen' Trap
English speakers often say 'eine Entscheidung machen'. This is a dead giveaway that you're translating literally from English. Stick to 'treffen'!
Add Adjectives
To sound more like a native, always put an adjective before 'Entscheidung'. Words like 'schnelle' (fast), 'einfache' (easy), or 'kluge' (smart) make you sound very fluent.
The Power of the Noun
Using 'eine Entscheidung treffen' instead of just the verb 'entscheiden' makes your statement sound more final and weighty in German culture.
예시
6Ich kann mich nicht entscheiden, ich muss jetzt eine Entscheidung treffen.
I can't decide, I have to make a decision now.
Using the phrase to express the pressure of choosing food.
Wir müssen bis morgen eine endgültige Entscheidung treffen.
We must make a final decision by tomorrow.
A professional way to set a deadline for a choice.
Hast du schon eine Entscheidung getroffen?
Have you made a decision yet?
A common way to check in on someone's plans.
Es war eine schwere Entscheidung, den Job zu kündigen.
It was a difficult decision to quit the job.
Adding an adjective like 'schwere' adds emotional weight.
Mein Hund kann keine Entscheidung treffen: Will er rein oder raus?
My dog can't make a decision: Does he want in or out?
Applying a formal phrase to a silly situation for comedic effect.
Du bist alt genug, um deine eigene Entscheidung zu treffen.
You are old enough to make your own decision.
Used to encourage independence and responsibility.
셀프 테스트
Choose the correct verb to complete the phrase.
Ich habe gestern eine wichtige Entscheidung ___.
In German, decisions are 'hit' (treffen), not 'made' (machen) or 'done' (tun).
Complete the sentence in the present tense for 'wir'.
Wir ___ heute eine Entscheidung.
The verb 'treffen' must be conjugated to match the subject 'wir'.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality of Making a Choice
Simple reflexive verb for quick choices.
sich entscheiden
The standard phrase for most situations.
eine Entscheidung treffen
Used in legal or high-level business contexts.
einen Entschluss fassen
Where to use 'eine Entscheidung treffen'
At the Office
Project strategy
Shopping
Buying a new car
Relationships
Moving in together
Daily Life
Choosing a vacation spot
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, 'eine Entscheidung machen' is grammatically incorrect in German. You must always use treffen to sound natural.
Not at all! It is a neutral phrase. While sich entscheiden is shorter, eine Entscheidung treffen is perfectly fine for casual use.
entscheiden is the simple verb 'to decide'. eine Entscheidung treffen is a noun-verb combination that sounds more deliberate and formal.
You use the Perfekt tense: Ich habe eine Entscheidung getroffen. Note that the participle is getroffen.
Yes, but it might sound slightly dramatic. For very small things, Germans often just say Ich nehme Schokolade (I'll take chocolate).
Yes, einen Entschluss fassen is more formal and often implies a firm resolution or a life-changing choice.
In other contexts, treffen can mean 'to meet' (friends) or 'to hit' (a target). In this phrase, it's used figuratively.
Common ones include schwer (difficult), leicht (easy), einsam (lonely), and gemeinsam (joint/together).
Yes, this phrase is standard across all German-speaking countries.
No, that doesn't work. Stick to treffen for the act of deciding.
관련 표현
sich entscheiden
to decide (simple verb)
eine Wahl treffen
to make a choice
einen Entschluss fassen
to make a resolution / firm decision
vor einer Entscheidung stehen
to be faced with a decision
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