German word

schöpfen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃœpfən/

Meaning

  • verbdraw

Example

Er schöpft Wasser aus dem Brunnen.

He draws water from the well.

Illustration for schöpfen (draw)

More examples

Nach der Meditation schöpft er neue Ideen aus seinen Erfahrungen.

After meditation, he draws new ideas from his experiences.

Core concept

A hand or ladle lifts liquid from a well or vessel, while the same movement provides something taken from a deeper source.

Common phrases

  • Ideen schöpfen aus Erfahrungen

    draw ideas from experiences

  • Mut schöpfen aus kleinen Erfolgen

    draw courage from small successes

  • Hoffnung schöpfen in schweren Zeiten

    find hope in difficult times

Similar words

nehmen: To take something by hand or with the help of a tool.
holen: To fetch something and bring it back.
ziehen: To pull something toward oneself or draw it upward.
entnehmen: To take out a portion from a container or larger supply.

Definition in German

Mit einer Hand- oder Kellenbewegung Wasser oder andere Flüssigkeit aus einem Gefäß oder einer Tiefe holen; im übertragenen Sinn von einer Quelle etwas beziehen oder erhalten

Word origin

Schöpfen is inherited through Middle High German schepfen from Old High German scepfan, with its concrete liquid-taking sense preceding its figurative source-based uses.

Usage tips

  • The figurative pattern is schöpfen aus plus the dative: Kraft aus etwas schöpfen means to draw strength from something.

Other meanings

  • deriveverb
  • draw outverb

Opposites

Related words

  • schöpferischcreativeadjective
  • Ausschöpfungfull utilizationnoun

Word lists with this word