billigen
To approve
Use `billigen` when an authority or group officially accepts a plan, behavior, or rule.
15秒了解
- To officially approve or sanction a decision or behavior.
- Used mostly in professional, legal, or formal social contexts.
- Implies a formal 'okay' rather than personal excitement.
意思
It means to officially approve or sanction something, often implying that you are okay with a decision or action even if you aren't thrilled about it.
关键例句
3 / 6In a business meeting
Der Vorstand hat das neue Budget schließlich gebilligt.
The board finally approved the new budget.
Discussing parenting
Meine Eltern billigen meinen neuen Lebensstil nicht.
My parents do not approve of my new lifestyle.
Legal or administrative context
Die Behörde wird den Bauantrag voraussichtlich billigen.
The authority will likely approve the building application.
文化背景
The word stems from the Middle High German word for 'fair' or 'equitable.' While 'billig' now means 'cheap' in modern German, 'billigen' retains the older sense of judging something as appropriate or acceptable. It reflects the German societal emphasis on formal consensus and the 'proper' way of doing things.
Don't buy it!
Do not confuse `billigen` with `billig` (cheap). If you say 'Ich billige das Auto,' people think you are approving the car's existence, not saying it's a bargain.
The 'Silent' Approval
In German law, there is a concept of 'stillschweigende Billigung' (tacit approval). It means you approved something just by not saying anything against it!
15秒了解
- To officially approve or sanction a decision or behavior.
- Used mostly in professional, legal, or formal social contexts.
- Implies a formal 'okay' rather than personal excitement.
What It Means
Billigen is a verb that sits comfortably in the world of approval. It is more than just saying 'yes.' It carries a sense of formal acceptance or endorsement. Think of it as giving the 'green light' to a plan or a behavior. It often implies that an authority figure or a group has looked at something and decided it is acceptable. It is not about passion. It is about official consent.
How To Use It
You use it like a standard weak verb. In a sentence, you usually have a subject (the person approving) and an object (the thing being approved). For example, Der Chef billigt den Plan. You can use it in the past tense as billigte or hat gebilligt. It sounds quite polished. It makes you sound like you know your way around a German office. Use it when discussing rules, budgets, or social behaviors.
When To Use It
This is your go-to word for professional settings. Use it in a meeting when a proposal is accepted. Use it when discussing ethics or laws. If a teacher allows a student to turn in late work, they billigen that choice. It is also great for talking about social norms. If your parents don't mind you staying out late, they billigen your lifestyle. It feels stable and certain.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use billigen for casual, enthusiastic agreement. If your friend asks if you want pizza, don't say Ich billige das. That sounds like you are a king granting a royal decree. It is too stiff for a party. Avoid it when you are talking about personal taste or hobbies. You don't billigen a movie you liked. You billigen the budget for the movie instead. Keep it for things that require a 'stamp of approval.'
Cultural Background
German culture values clear structures and official processes. Billigen reflects this need for formal validation. Historically, it is related to the word billig (cheap), but don't get confused! Originally, billig meant 'fair' or 'just.' So, billigen is about finding something to be 'fair' or 'right' according to the rules. It is a word that respects order and consensus.
Common Variations
The most common variation is the noun Billigung. You will see this on official documents. Mit freundlicher Billigung means 'with kind approval.' Another related word is missbilligen. This is the opposite. It means to disapprove or frown upon something. If you do something rude, expect some Missbilligung from the locals!
使用说明
This verb is firmly in the formal and professional register. Avoid using it in relaxed social settings unless you are trying to be intentionally ironic or stiff.
Don't buy it!
Do not confuse `billigen` with `billig` (cheap). If you say 'Ich billige das Auto,' people think you are approving the car's existence, not saying it's a bargain.
The 'Silent' Approval
In German law, there is a concept of 'stillschweigende Billigung' (tacit approval). It means you approved something just by not saying anything against it!
Distance is Key
Using `billigen` creates a bit of emotional distance. It sounds objective. Use it when you want to sound like a professional professional.
例句
6Der Vorstand hat das neue Budget schließlich gebilligt.
The board finally approved the new budget.
Standard professional use for financial approval.
Meine Eltern billigen meinen neuen Lebensstil nicht.
My parents do not approve of my new lifestyle.
Used here to show social or moral disapproval.
Die Behörde wird den Bauantrag voraussichtlich billigen.
The authority will likely approve the building application.
Very common in bureaucracy and law.
Hat der Chef den Entwurf schon gebilligt?
Has the boss approved the draft yet?
Semi-formal workplace communication.
Mein Hund billigt es nicht, wenn ich ohne ihn esse.
My dog does not approve when I eat without him.
Using a formal word for a silly situation creates humor.
Die UN-Vollversammlung billigte die Resolution.
The UN General Assembly approved the resolution.
High-level political usage.
自我测试
Choose the correct form of 'billigen' for a past event.
Der Stadtrat ___ die Pläne für den neuen Park gestern.
The sentence refers to 'yesterday' (gestern), so the simple past 'billigte' is required.
Complete the sentence with the correct past participle.
Hast du die Änderungen bereits ___?
The auxiliary verb 'hast' requires the past participle 'gebilligt' to form the Perfekt tense.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality Scale of Approval
Used with friends for small things.
Okay sagen
Standard everyday agreement.
zustimmen
Official or authoritative approval.
billigen
Legal or state-level sanctioning.
sanktionieren
Where to use 'billigen'
Office
Budget approval
Government
New laws/rules
Family
Moral consent
Construction
Permit acceptance
常见问题
10 个问题Not exactly. Zustimmen means to agree with an opinion, while billigen means to officially allow or accept an action or plan.
No, that would sound very strange. You would use schmecken or mögen. You only billigen the chef's hygiene standards, maybe!
Rarely. It is mostly for work, news, or serious discussions about behavior. In a bar, you'd just say Das ist okay.
The direct opposite is missbilligen, which means to disapprove. For example: Er missbilligt mein Verhalten (He disapproves of my behavior).
Only in the sense of approving a budget. Even though billig means cheap, billigen is about the 'fairness' or 'correctness' of a decision.
No, it is a regular (weak) verb. It follows the pattern: billigen, billigte, hat gebilligt.
Yes, this is a very common context. You will often hear in the news: Das Parlament billigte das neue Gesetz.
The noun is die Billigung. You might say, Das geschah mit meiner Billigung (That happened with my approval).
Yes, sometimes it implies tolerating something you don't love but won't stop, like stillschweigend billigen (to tacitly tolerate).
It is much more common in writing, especially in journalism, legal texts, and formal emails.
相关表达
genehmigen (to authorize/permit)
akzeptieren (to accept)
gutheißen (to condone/approve of)
zulassen (to allow/admit)
missbilligen (to disapprove)
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