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Anheben vs. Aufheben

The separable verbs anheben and aufheben look very similar and have meanings related to the base verb heben, which is usually translated as "to lift," or "to raise," and is the Germanic root of the English verb "to heave."

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Let's first take a look at anheben

 

Heb einfach den Riegel an und komm herein!
Simply lift the latch and come inside!

Caption 48, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Rotkäppchen und der Wolf

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Die Hüfte hebt der Springer an,

The jumper lifts his hips

indem er die Hacken Richtung eigenes Kreuz drückt.

by pressing his heels toward his own lower back.

Captions 29-30, Olympische Spiele - Hochsprung

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Dazu hebst du ein Ski-Ende an und versetzt es auf die Seite.
For this, you'll lift the back of the ski and shift it to the side.

Caption 14, Skifahren lernen - Erste Vorübungen im flachen Gelände

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Dieses Bein anheben. Ah, ja, genau.
Lift that leg. Oh, yes, exactly.

Caption 17, TEDx - Lebenslange Fitness

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Anheben is used when you want something to be lifted just a little or for a short amount of time, such as asking somebody to lift up the sofa so you can vacuum under it.

 

Let's contrast that now with aufheben:

 

Oma, kann ich die Münze aufheben
Grandma, can I pick up the coin?

Caption 4, Ivana erzählt Witze - Fritzle und die Oma

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Fritzle, heb mich auf.
Little Fritz, pick me up.

Caption 14, Ivana erzählt Witze - Fritzle und die Oma

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Aufheben is usually translated as "to pick up" but can also mean "to save" in the sense of aufbewahren. It is also used in an idiomatic expression that can be useful: 

 

Ich hebe es mir für einen anderen Tag auf.
I'll save it for another day.

Caption 12, Hausputz - mit Eva

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Further Learning
In a forthcoming lesson we'll explore the differences between abheben and hochheben, yet more variations of the root verb heben. Das hebe ich mir aber für einen späteren Newsletter auf

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