Ich bin dabei
The English phrase "count me in" is translated into German as Ich bin dabei.
This expression is used to show that you want to participate in a planned activity.
Which one should you use?
While Ich bin dabei is the standard way to say you are joining, its direct functional opposite is Ich bin raus, which is used to say you are no longer participating or are opting out.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the situation. If you are addressing a person using the formal "Sie" pronoun, you can use Zählen Sie mich dazu. If you are addressing someone using the familiar "du" pronoun, you can use Zähl mich dazu. For a more idiomatic and slightly more formal tone, you can use Ich bin mit von der Partie.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Ich bin dabei uses the verb sein (to be) and the adverb dabei to indicate participation.
Did you know?
- In German, the phrase Ich bin dabei can also mean 'I am in the middle of doing something' or 'I am currently busy with this'.
- The phrase Ich bin mit von der Partie comes from the word Partie, which originally referred to a side in a game or a legal dispute.
- The German word bin is a hybrid creation, combining a root similar to the English 'am' with a 'b' prefix from a different ancestral root.
Examples in context
- Ich bin dabei!Count me in.This sentence is useful for expressing the phrase Ich bin dabei.Tatoeba #579204 by kroko, translation #42880 by CK
- Wer kommt heute Abend mit ins Kino?Who is coming to the cinema tonight?
- Egal wohin ihr geht, ich bin dabei.No matter where you go, I'm in.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing plans for a hiking trip.
- LauraWir wollen am Samstag in die Berge wandern.We want to go hiking in the mountains on Saturday.
- MaximilianDas klingt super, ich bin dabei!That sounds great, count me in!
- LauraSchön, dass du mitkommst, Maximilian.It's nice that you're coming, Maximilian.
- MaximilianIch freue mich schon darauf.I am already looking forward to it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ich, bin, dabei, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
