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Lesson 180 of 240

New here? This is lesson 180 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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That must be hard in German

Jule is back from Hamburg, delayed and worn out. She walks into Bäckerei Krause still in her yellow jacket.

Priya is already there. This lesson is how you answer a hard day: that must be hard, that's awful, you look tired.

You can also offer a chair, or ask if you can help. Keep it short. Do not jump in with a fix yet.

By the end of this lesson

Respond when someone has had a hard day.

  • Das ist bestimmt schwer.That must be hard.
  • Das ist ja schrecklich.That's awful.
  • Puh, das klingt nach einem harten Tag.Phew, that sounds like a rough day.
  • Du siehst müde aus.You look tired.
  • Willst du dich kurz hinsetzen?Do you want to sit down for a minute?
  • Kann ich dir irgendwie helfen?Is there anything I can do to help?

Scene — after Hamburg

Sunday at Bäckerei Krause. Priya sits at a small table. Anton is at the corner with a Milchkaffee he has not finished.

The door opens. Jule comes in from the Hamburg trip, still in her yellow jacket, backpack on, clearly worn out.

Jule arrives at Bäckerei Krause while Priya sits at her table and Anton waits in the corner.

Learn — a hard day

Six lines for a hard day: that must be hard, that's awful, and that sounds like a rough day.

Then you notice they look tired, offer a seat, and ask if you can help.

  1. Priya turns toward Jule with a sympathetic gesture as Jule explains the trip went wrong.

    Das ist bestimmt schwer.

    That must be hard.

    When to use it: Say this when a friend's situation sounds hard.

    Use this for something hard, not for something awful.

  2. Anton turns from his corner table toward Jule as she describes the cancelled train and the bus.

    Das ist ja schrecklich.

    That's awful.

    When to use it: Say this when the news itself sounds awful.

    Ja here underlines that the news really is awful.

    Say it: The ch in schrecklich is the ich sound, not the ach sound.

  3. Jule stands beside a chair and tells Priya that rain fell at the harbour.

    Puh, das klingt nach einem harten Tag.

    Phew, that sounds like a rough day.

    When to use it: Say this after someone describes a long, rough day.

    Use this after the story, not as the first hello.

    Say it: Harten puts the stress on the first syllable.

  4. Priya looks at the tired Jule with concern before offering her a place to sit.

    Du siehst müde aus.

    You look tired.

    When to use it: Say this when a friend's face or posture looks tired.

    The prefix aus stands at the end of the clause.

    Say it: Say müde with rounded lips for ü, not like English oo.

  5. Priya slides an empty chair toward Jule, inviting her to sit for a moment.

    Willst du dich kurz hinsetzen?

    Do you want to sit down for a minute?

    When to use it: Offer this when a tired friend is still standing.

    This asks a friend; it is not an order.

    Say it: Hinsetzen puts the stress on the first syllable.

  6. Anton gestures toward the extra chair at his corner table as Jule prepares to sit.

    Kann ich dir irgendwie helfen?

    Is there anything I can do to help?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to help a friend who is struggling.

    A friend gets dir, not Ihnen.

Story — she is worn out

Jule is back from Hamburg and worn out. Watch how Priya answers the hard day, not the timetable.

Highlighted words are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Jule stops just inside the door, backpack still on.
  2. JulePuh, ich bin endlich zurück.Phew, I'm finally back.
  3. PriyaDu bist ja zurück. Wie war's?You're back. How was it?
  4. JuleDie Reise lief nicht wie geplant.The trip didn't go as planned.
  5. PriyaDas ist bestimmt schwer.That must be hard.
  6. JuleDer ICE ist ausgefallen, und dann kam der Bus.The ICE was cancelled, and then the bus came.
  7. PriyaDas ist ja schrecklich.That's awful.
  8. Jule stays on her feet, one hand on a chair.
  9. JuleAm Hafen hat es auch noch geregnet.It rained at the harbour as well.
  10. PriyaPuh, das klingt nach einem harten Tag.Phew, that sounds like a rough day.
  11. Anton looks over from the corner table. His Milchkaffee is still full.
  12. AntonDu siehst müde aus.You look tired.
  13. JuleJa, ich bin seit fünf unterwegs.Yes, I've been on the road since five.
  14. PriyaWillst du dich kurz hinsetzen?Do you want to sit down for a minute?
  15. JuleJa, gerne. Nur ganz kurz.Yes, please. Just for a moment.
  16. AntonSetz dich. Hier ist noch Platz.Have a seat. There's still room here.
  17. JuleDanke, Anton.Thanks, Anton.
  18. PriyaKann ich dir irgendwie helfen?Is there anything I can do to help?
  19. JuleEin Wasser wäre schon gut.A water would already help.

Practice — the right reply

Ten short tasks mix listening, matching, gaps, and building. You'll pick the line that fits the moment.

A tired friend gets a reply, not a lecture.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Das ist bestimmt schwer.Drop the English here
    Das ist ja schrecklich.Drop the English here
    Puh, das klingt nach einem harten Tag.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What does it mean?

    Das ist ja schrecklich.

  4. Fill the gap

    Phew, that sounds like a rough day.

    Puh, das klingt nach einem ____ Tag.

  5. Build the line

    You look tired.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    Your tired friend is still standing. Offer her a minute to sit down.

    Willst du dich kurz ____?

  7. Pick the reply

    Jule says:

    Der Koffer ist schwer.

    The suitcase is heavy.

    And you reply with:

  8. Find the mistake

  9. True or false?

    This line means the trip went as planned.

  10. What do you say?

    Your tired friend is still on her feet. Tell her, shortly, to sit down.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Priya. Jule has had a long delayed trip. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JuleDie Reise lief nicht wie geplant.The trip didn't go as planned.
  2. Priya (you)Show her you know the delayed trip was hard.

    Das ist bestimmt schwer.

    That must be hard.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Das ist bestimmt schwer.That must be hard.
Das ist ja schrecklich.That's awful.
Puh, das klingt nach einem harten Tag.Phew, that sounds like a rough day.
Du siehst müde aus.You look tired.
Willst du dich kurz hinsetzen?Do you want to sit down for a minute?
Kann ich dir irgendwie helfen?Is there anything I can do to help?
Next: lesson 181Listening to a friend

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want these hard-day replies handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps a kind reply ready when a friend looks worn out.

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