The German Preposition ‘Bei’ – A Closer Look

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How would you translate the following sentences into German?Bei this hot weather, I would never wear socks. She worked day and night. Most German students learn early on that it is often a different German preposition that replaces the main English equivalent in a sentence. What I find interesting is how the dative preposition bei/by was once written the same way in both Old English and Middle High German (bi) and meant the same thing (near), yet they have both evolved to mean different things. For example, bei can mean “today,” depending on the context, as well as “near,” “at,” “by,” “among,” “in case of.” In English, on the other hand, these words have different meanings: bei, neben (beside), bis (until), mit (with), nach (after), um (around), von (from), über (over). But German learners need not despair, as there are still many situations where bei means “by.” (One such example is given at the beginning of this article: “She worked day and night.” The first example, however, translates to “I would never wear socks in this hot weather.”) When to use the preposition bei: Here are some examples of its main uses and meanings: To indicate that something is nearby or in the vicinity; it can often replace “in der Nähe von”: The gas station is right by the shopping centre. To state that something or someone is at a particular place or during a particular event: She lives with her aunt. Used during an event or while doing something: She fell while running. It can also be used to mean “with”: You should stay with him. Some less common uses include shortening the expression “Im Falle…” (in case of): Instead of “Im Falle eines Unfalls,” you can say “Bei einem Unfall…” To describe the cause or reason for something: In such a heat wave, one should go swimming. Common phrases involving “bei” that don’t correspond to “by” in English: We pray daily at our house. She works at the ice-cream parlor. My mother is at the hairdresser’s. I don’t have a pen with me. I met him at a carnival party. I’ll be at the university at nine o’clock. She fainted at work. My father always sings while doing the dishes. “By” in German: As the reader may have noticed, the various meanings of “bei” are reflected in the German translation of “by” as well. Even the primary meaning of both words, namely indicating proximity, varies. Generally speaking, a sentence containing a prepositional phrase with “by” that refers to proximity is likely to be translated as “bei.” Let’s look at some examples: When “by” is translated as “bei”: It’s used when someone or something is right next to a place, rather than inside it. She’s meeting me by the statue. He’s sitting right next to his girlfriend. Your friend passed by. It can also be used in contexts related to touch: The teacher took the student by the arm. Some expressions include: By Zeus! I swear by God… When “by” is not translated as “bei”: Phrases related to time: You need to hand in the money by Friday at the latest. She should be here by now. To indicate origin: This music was composed by Chopin. Modes of transportation: By car/train, etc. Common English phrases containing “by”: To judge by appearances. It’s fine with me. By myself. Made by hand. To pay by check. One by one. Keep in mind that these translations aren’t always reversible; just because “by” can sometimes mean “nach” doesn’t mean that “nach” always means “by.” When it comes to prepositions, it’s best to first learn which grammatical case they’re associated with, and then learn the common combinations of these prepositions with verbs and expressions. A full list of related words and expressions using the preposition “bei” can be found in Part II.