Schulbildung
The English phrase school education is translated into German as Schulbildung.
Schulbildung is used to describe the process of being educated within a school setting. It refers to the abstract concept of the education received rather than the specific act of being taught in a classroom.
What does it mean word for word?
The compound noun Schulbildung is composed of Schul-, meaning school and Bildung, meaning education or formation.
Which one should you use?
While Schulbildung describes the concept of education, if you want to refer specifically to the actual teaching or the lessons occurring in a classroom, you should use Schulunterricht.
How does it change in a sentence?
Schulbildung is a feminine noun. This is because the gender of a compound noun in German is determined by the second part, which in this case is Bildung.
Did you know?
- Unlike in English, where 'education' is a broad term, German differentiates strictly between Bildung (personal growth) and Ausbildung (vocational training). You would not use Schulbildung to describe learning a trade like carpentry.
- The term Bildungsbürgertum refers to a specific social class in German history defined not by wealth or nobility, but by their level of Bildung.
- In German culture, Bildung is a philosophical ideal of self-cultivation that goes far beyond Schulbildung. One can have a high level of Bildung without ever having attended a university.
Examples in context
- Ich habe meine Schulausbildung an einer staatlichen Schule abgeschlossen.I completed my school education at a public school.
- Die Schulbildung ist sehr wichtig.School education is very important.
- Er hat eine gute Schulbildung.He has a good school education.
- Ihre Schulbildung war sehr gründlich.Her school education was very thorough.
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are discussing their career paths.
- MaximilianWie wichtig war dir deine Schulbildung?How important was your school education to you?
- LauraSie hat mir eine gute Basis gegeben.It gave me a good foundation.
- MaximilianDas stimmt, eine gute Schulbildung hilft immer.That's true, a good school education always helps.
- LauraJa, das sehe ich auch so.Yes, I see it that way too.
