You've probably encountered 'dauern' in German, and your first thought might be a simple 'to last.' And yes, that's often the core meaning, like when a film 'dauert' two hours, or a meeting 'hat lange gedauert' – it lasted a long time. It’s that straightforward sense of time passing, of something occupying a certain duration.
But like so many words, 'dauern' has a bit more depth than a quick dictionary lookup might suggest. Think about the phrase 'auf Dauer.' This isn't just about something lasting; it implies a longer-term perspective, a sense of 'in the long run' or 'permanently.' You might hear someone say, 'Auf Dauer wird sie dieses Tempo nicht durchhalten' – meaning, 'In the long run, she won't be able to keep up this pace.' It’s about sustainability, about what can endure over an extended period.
Then there's the slightly more poetic, almost archaic use of 'dauern' to mean 'to elicit sympathy' or 'to feel sorry for.' For instance, 'Ihn dauerten die vielen heimatlosen Kinder' translates to 'He felt sorry for all the homeless children.' It’s a feeling that lingers, that affects you over time, hence the connection to 'dauern.' It’s a gentler, more empathetic use of the word, suggesting a prolonged emotional response.
And let's not forget its close cousin, 'überdauern.' While 'dauern' is about occupying time, 'überdauern' is about outlasting something else. The example of a cathedral that 'hat viele Kriege/Unwetter überdauert' – 'has survived many wars/storms' – perfectly captures this. It's about enduring through challenges, about persisting beyond them. It carries a sense of resilience, of standing firm when others might falter.
So, while 'to last' is a solid starting point, the German 'dauern' and its variations invite us to consider not just the passage of time, but also its implications: the long haul, the emotional resonance, and the sheer tenacity of things that endure.
