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sich ernst nehmen
/zɪç ˈɛʁnst ˈneːmən/
to take oneself seriously
Man sollte sich ernst nehmen, aber nicht zu ernst.
One should take oneself seriously, but not too seriously.
general
To regard oneself as important or worthy of respect; to have self-respect and confidence in one's abilities.
Sie nimmt sich sehr ernst und erwartet, dass andere sie respektieren.
She takes herself very seriously and expects others to respect her.
Er sollte sich mehr ernst nehmen und an sich glauben.
He should take himself more seriously and believe in himself.
This phrase emphasizes self-respect and confidence, but it can also imply arrogance if overdone.
Collocations
sich selbst ernst nehmento take oneself seriouslyjemanden ernst nehmento take someone seriously
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The phrase can be positive (encouraging self-respect) or negative (suggesting arrogance), depending on tone and context.
Gold Rule
Self-Respect vs. Arrogance
Use this phrase to encourage confidence, but be aware that it can imply criticism if used in a negative context.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the reflexive pronoun 'sich' with the adjective 'ernst' (serious) and the verb 'nehmen' (to take). It reflects the German cultural value of self-respect and professionalism.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in both personal and professional contexts to encourage self-confidence and self-respect. However, it can also be used critically to suggest that someone is being overly serious or arrogant.
Word Breakdown
sich
oneself
reflexive pronounernst
serious
adjectivenehmen
to take
verbDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch