zu beschäftigt
/t͡suː bəˈʃɛftɪkt/word by word
The English phrase "too busy" is translated into German as zu beschäftigt.
zu beschäftigt is used to describe having too many things to do to be able to do something else. A common idiomatic alternative is viel zu tun haben, which means "to have too much to do".
What does it mean word for word?
zu beschäftigt breaks down into zu, meaning "too" and beschäftigt, meaning "busy".
Which one should you use?
It is important to note that beschäftigt is used for people who have tasks to perform. It is not used to describe a place that is busy with people, such as a busy street. In those cases, you would use belebt.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective beschäftigt does not change its form based on the gender or number of the person who is busy. It remains beschäftigt whether you are talking about one person or many.
How do you pronounce it?
/tsuː bəˈʃɛftɪkt/
Did you know?
- The German word beschäftigt comes from the word Geschäft, which means 'business' or 'shop'. To be busy is literally to be 'engaged in business'.
- While beschäftigt means 'busy', it can also mean 'occupied' in the sense of a toilet or a telephone line being in use.
- If you want to say a street is 'busy', you should use 'belebt', which literally translates to 'animated' or 'full of life'.
Examples in context
- Ich bin zu beschäftigt.I'm too busy.This sentence is useful for stating that you personally are too busy.Tatoeba #8317299 by Luiaard, translation #2046654 by CK
- Wir sind zu beschäftigt.We're too busy.This sentence is useful for stating that we are too busy.Tatoeba #8470490 by Luiaard, translation #2240674 by CK
- Bist du wirklich zu beschäftigt?Are you really too busy?This sentence is useful for asking someone if they are really too busy.Tatoeba #8230522 by Luiaard, translation #5020134 by CK
- 86 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix asks Hannah for help with a project.
- FelixKannst du mir heute kurz helfen?Can you help me for a moment today?
- HannahTut mir leid, ich bin gerade zu beschäftigt.I'm sorry, I am too busy right now.
- FelixHast du morgen vielleicht mehr Zeit?Maybe you have more time tomorrow?
- HannahJa, morgen bin ich nicht mehr so zu beschäftigt.Yes, I won't be so too busy tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (zu, beschäftigt) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
