Papiere prüfen
To check documents
직역: Papers to check/verify
Use this when someone in authority needs to verify your official documents or identity papers.
15초 만에
- Verifying official identification or legal documents for accuracy.
- Common in German bureaucracy, travel, and formal business settings.
- Implies a thorough, official inspection rather than a quick glance.
뜻
It simply means to verify or inspect official documents or identification papers. You'll hear it most often when dealing with authorities, landlords, or during a job application process.
주요 예문
3 / 7At the airport border control
Der Grenzbeamte muss Ihre Papiere prüfen, bevor Sie einreisen.
The border official must check your papers before you enter.
Applying for a new apartment
Der Vermieter möchte zuerst meine Papiere prüfen.
The landlord wants to check my papers first.
A police traffic stop
Wir müssen Ihre Papiere prüfen, bitte zeigen Sie Ihren Führerschein.
We need to check your papers, please show your driver's license.
문화적 배경
Germany has a deeply rooted bureaucratic tradition where physical documents often carry more weight than digital ones. The phrase reflects the national emphasis on 'Ordnung' (order) and the legal necessity of having 'Papiere' for almost every life milestone, from moving house to getting married.
The 'Papiere' Secret
In German, 'Papiere' is almost always plural in this context. Even if they are only checking one ID card, people will still say 'Papiere'.
Prüfen vs. Kontrollieren
While similar, 'prüfen' sounds like a verification of truth, while 'kontrollieren' sounds more like a search for a violation. Use 'prüfen' to be more polite.
15초 만에
- Verifying official identification or legal documents for accuracy.
- Common in German bureaucracy, travel, and formal business settings.
- Implies a thorough, official inspection rather than a quick glance.
What It Means
At its heart, Papiere prüfen is about verification. It is the act of looking at official documents to ensure they are valid. In Germany, this is a very common activity. It isn't just about looking; it is about confirming legality. You are making sure everything is in order. It is the verbal equivalent of a magnifying glass over a passport.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when an authority figure needs to see your ID. It is also used in business when checking contracts. Usually, the person in power is the one doing the prüfen. You might say, "The police are checking the papers." Or you might hear, "We need to check your documents first." It follows a standard subject-verb-object structure in German. It is very straightforward and hard to mess up.
When To Use It
Use this phrase at the airport or a border crossing. Use it when you are applying for a new apartment. Landlords love to Papiere prüfen before they let you move in. It is also perfect for formal office environments. If you are starting a new job, HR will definitely do this. Even at a car rental desk, this phrase is king. It signals that a serious check is happening.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for casual things like checking a recipe. You wouldn't Papiere prüfen a love letter from your partner. It sounds way too cold and official for that. Avoid using it when you are just glancing at something. If you are checking your phone for messages, use nachsehen instead. Using prüfen implies a level of scrutiny that friends don't usually apply to each other. Don't be the friend who acts like a border guard!
Cultural Background
Germany is famous for its love of paperwork and bureaucracy. There is a saying: "Wer schreibt, der bleibt" (He who writes, stays). This culture makes Papiere prüfen a daily ritual. Historically, having the right "Papiere" was a matter of life and death. Today, it is just a matter of getting your internet installed. Germans value the security that comes with verified documentation. It represents "Ordnung" (order) in a chaotic world.
Common Variations
You might hear Unterlagen sichten which is a bit more relaxed. It means to look through a pile of documents. Dokumente kontrollieren is another very common alternative. It sounds slightly more aggressive, like a police inspection. If someone says they are etwas unter die Lupe nehmen, they are checking very closely. Stick to Papiere prüfen for most formal interactions. It is the gold standard for bureaucratic German.
사용 참고사항
The phrase is neutral but leans towards formal settings. It is the standard way to describe the verification of identity or legal status without sounding overly aggressive.
The 'Papiere' Secret
In German, 'Papiere' is almost always plural in this context. Even if they are only checking one ID card, people will still say 'Papiere'.
Prüfen vs. Kontrollieren
While similar, 'prüfen' sounds like a verification of truth, while 'kontrollieren' sounds more like a search for a violation. Use 'prüfen' to be more polite.
The Folder Culture
Many Germans keep a 'Ordner' (binder) with all their life documents. If someone asks to 'Papiere prüfen', a German might literally pull out a 10lb binder!
예시
7Der Grenzbeamte muss Ihre Papiere prüfen, bevor Sie einreisen.
The border official must check your papers before you enter.
This is the most common formal use of the phrase.
Der Vermieter möchte zuerst meine Papiere prüfen.
The landlord wants to check my papers first.
Refers to credit scores and proof of income.
Wir müssen Ihre Papiere prüfen, bitte zeigen Sie Ihren Führerschein.
We need to check your papers, please show your driver's license.
Standard procedure during a routine traffic check.
Die Firma will noch meine Papiere prüfen, dann kriege ich den Job!
The company still wants to check my papers, then I get the job!
Used here to describe the final verification step.
Halt! Ich muss erst deine Papiere prüfen, bevor du ein Bier kriegst.
Stop! I must check your papers first before you get a beer.
A common humorous way to act like a strict official.
Kommen Sie morgen vorbei, damit wir Ihre Papiere prüfen können.
Come by tomorrow so we can check your papers.
Friendly but professional request for onboarding.
Sie prüfen meine Papiere schon seit drei Monaten.
They have been checking my papers for three months already.
Expresses the frustration of slow bureaucracy.
셀프 테스트
Choose the correct verb to complete the bureaucratic phrase.
Der Beamte möchte meine ___ prüfen.
In a formal context with an official (Beamte), 'Papiere' is the standard object for 'prüfen'.
Complete the sentence describing a landlord's action.
Bevor ich den Mietvertrag unterschreibe, muss der Vermieter meine Papiere ___.
To verify documents, the verb 'prüfen' is the correct choice.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality of 'Papiere prüfen'
Joking with friends about IDs.
Lass mal Papiere prüfen!
Standard business or rental situations.
Wir prüfen Ihre Papiere.
Police or government interactions.
Darf ich Ihre Papiere prüfen?
Where you will encounter 'Papiere prüfen'
Airport Security
Passport control check.
Real Estate
Applying for a flat.
Job Market
HR verifying degrees.
Police Stop
Checking car registration.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Technically yes, but nowadays it includes digital PDFs or your plastic ID card. If someone says Papiere prüfen, they mean any official proof of identity or status.
Not at all! It is a standard part of the German rental process. It means they are taking your application seriously.
You can say Ich checke das, but it is very informal. In a government office, always stick to prüfen to sound respectful.
Prüfen is for verification against a standard. Untersuchen is more like a scientific investigation or a medical exam.
Yes, if a teacher is checking your enrollment documents or certificates, they would use this phrase.
Usually, you would say Hausaufgaben kontrollieren. Papiere prüfen sounds too much like a passport check for homework.
Papiere is the more traditional, slightly more colloquial term for your personal IDs. Dokumente sounds more like legal contracts or technical files.
The official might say Die Papiere sind nicht vollständig (The papers are not complete). You will then need to bring more documents.
Yes, it is standard across the DACH region. The love for bureaucracy is a shared cultural trait!
Absolutely. You should always say Ich möchte die Papiere prüfen to see the car's service history and registration.
관련 표현
Dokumente einreichen
To submit documents
Einen Antrag stellen
To submit an application
Die Unterlagen sichten
To look through the documents
Sich ausweisen
To identify oneself (with ID)
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