{"id":13729,"date":"2022-01-21T17:04:26","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T17:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=13729"},"modified":"2022-01-21T17:04:26","modified_gmt":"2022-01-21T17:04:26","slug":"german-idioms-34-new-beginnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/german-idioms-34-new-beginnings\/","title":{"rendered":"German Idioms 34: New Beginnings"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s a new year! Perhaps you have devised some\u00a0gute Vors\u00e4tze f\u00fcrs neue Jahr<\/em> (m, New Year’s resolutions)<\/a> to finally get fit, wake up earlier, take up your weekends to truly rest, or finally do those trips you wanted to go on. We like doing this at the beginning of the year, as it’s a new\u00a0Anfang\u00a0<\/em>(m, beginning) – it’s like we’re starting from zero, anew, all doors are open! To celebrate that positive vibe, let’s dig into a\u00a0Sprichwort\u00a0<\/em>(n, saying) and an Ausdruck\u00a0<\/em>(expression) that are all about\u00a0der Anfang <\/em>in this first post in our series on German idioms.<\/p>\n

For previous posts in the series on German Idioms, please follow this link.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jedem\u00a0Anfang\u00a0wohnt ein Zauber inne<\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
\"German<\/a>

Photo by Patrick Hendry<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Literally: A spell inhabits each beginning<\/em><\/p>\n

There is magic in every new beginning<\/strong><\/p>\n

This wonderful\u00a0Sprichwort\u00a0<\/em>relates to the chances of a new Anfang<\/em>,\u00a0die Ungewissheit\u00a0<\/em>(uncertainty) of the outcome. The excitement about discovering and learning new things, that can lead you in directions you hadn’t even considered. Es ist einfach magisch\u00a0<\/em>(It is simply magical).<\/p>\n

This\u00a0Sprichwort\u00a0<\/em>found its own\u00a0Anfang\u00a0<\/em>in the wonderful Gedicht\u00a0<\/em>(poem) “Stufen<\/em>” (Stages) by Hermann Hesse from 1941:<\/a><\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne,<\/em>
\nDer uns besch\u00fctzt und der uns hilft, zu leben.<\/em><\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

(And a spell inhabits each beginning<\/p>\n

that protects us und helps us thrive.)1<\/a><\/sup>I freely translated that here. Leben would really translate to live, but I think thrive works better for how it’s meant here<\/span><\/p>\n

The point of the poem is to look at each new\u00a0Lebensstufe\u00a0<\/em>(f, stages of life) afresh. It’s an encouraging and hopeful message, for sure. So keep that in mind to motivate yourself!<\/p>\n

Here’s an example of how this\u00a0Sprichwort\u00a0<\/em>could be used:<\/p>\n

Ich habe mir vorgenommen, dieses Jahr mehr Sport zu machen.<\/em><\/p>\n

– Wirklich? Total gut!<\/em><\/p>\n

Ja… Ich bin mir nur nicht sicher, ob ich das schaffe.<\/em><\/p>\n

–\u00a0 Das kriegst du hin! Vergiss nicht, jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber<\/em> inne.<\/em><\/p>\n

(I am planning to exercise more this year.<\/p>\n

– Really? That’s great!<\/p>\n

Yeah… I am just not sure if I can do it.<\/p>\n

– Yes, you can! Don’t forget, there is magic in every new beginning.)<\/p>\n

With that, let’s go to our\u00a0Ausdruck<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Bei null anfangen<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n
\"German<\/a>

Photo by Bernard Hermant<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Literally: to start at zero<\/em><\/p>\n

To start from scratch<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a ubiquitous expression, not only in German but also in English. And while the idea of “beginning at zero” makes sense in English, you would probably not say it. In German, we do!\u00a0Bei null anfangen\u00a0<\/em>is so ubiquitous that it can also mean that you simply start at the very beginning. Let’s say you have a presentation, and it doesn’t go as planned – so you decide to start again from the beginning. You can say\u00a0Ich fange bei null an\u00a0<\/em>(I’ll start at zero). But also with every completely new experience,\u00a0f\u00e4ngst du bei null an<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The origin of this\u00a0Ausdruck\u00a0<\/em>is pretty self-explanatory. Zero is the very beginning of any measurement. So it makes sense to translate that into language with a tangible expression. Here’s an example of using it:<\/p>\n

Ich bin total nerv\u00f6s. Vielleicht ist Judo nichts f\u00fcr mich!<\/em><\/p>\n

– Naja, so schwer kann das doch nicht sein…<\/em><\/p>\n

Ja, sagst du. Du machst ja drei Mal die Woche Sport. Ich fange bei null an!<\/em><\/p>\n

(I am super nervous. Maybe judo is really not my thing!<\/p>\n

– Well, it can’t be that hard…<\/p>\n

Yeah, says you. But you also exercise three time a week. I am starting from scratch!)<\/p>\n

Have you heard of these or similar ones before? What aer these in your language? Let me know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether you\u00a0f\u00e4ngst bei null an\u00a0<\/em>or are already well underway, I wish you\u00a0viel Erfolg\u00a0<\/em>(good luck) with your goals and undertakings! And never forget:\u00a0Jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n