beziehe

Beziehen is a German verb with several related meanings that center on drawing, obtaining, or relating. It is used in everyday language as well as in formal writing, and it can describe obtaining money or goods, drawing information from a source, moving into a living space, or referring to something.

Etymology and basic sense

The verb derives from be- plus ziehen (to pull or draw). The prefix be- gives a broad, intensifying or applicative sense, and beziehen therefore conveys actions like drawing from a source, furnishing, or relating to something. The word also forms common phrases and fixed combinations in everyday use.

Core meanings

One primary sense is to obtain or receive something, such as salary or pension: “Gehalt beziehen” or “Rente beziehen.” It can also mean to source or procure goods or materials, as in “aus dem Ausland beziehen” (to source from abroad). A related use is to move into a residence: “eine Wohnung beziehen.”

Another broad meaning is to upholster or cover a surface with material: “das Sofa beziehen” (to upholster the sofa). The noun Bezug is linked, meaning a reference, connection, or a cover/covering, depending on context.

A further important meaning is to refer to or relate to something: “sich beziehen auf etwas,” often translated as “to refer to” or “to relate to.” This is frequently used in scholarly or journalistic writing, e.g., “Der Bericht bezieht sich auf frühere Daten.”

Conjugation note

Beziehen is an inseparable prefix verb. In present tense it appears as: ich beziehe, du beziehst, er bezieht, wir beziehen, ihr bezieht, sie beziehen. The reflexive form “sich beziehen” governs a dependent prepositional phrase such as “auf.”

See also

Bezug, the noun, covers related meanings such as reference, relationship, or upholstery.