nachsehen

Nachsehen is a German verb with several related senses. It primarily means to look again or to check something by consulting a source, such as a dictionary, directory, or database. It can also mean to look after or check on someone to ensure that they are well or that a situation is proceeding as expected.

Grammatically, nachsehen is a separable verb. In the present tense the prefix appears after the finite verb: Ich sehe im Wörterbuch nach. Er schaut nach. In the perfect tense the participle is nachgesehen: Ich habe im Wörterbuch nachgesehen. For future or other tenses the verb follows the usual conjugation patterns, e.g., Wir werden nachsehen, ob der Termin bestätigt ist. A common spoken usage is: Ich muss mal nachsehen, wie es geht.

Das Nachsehen is also a noun form derived from the verb. It denotes an unfavourable outcome or a disadvantage, the disappointment of being left with the short end of the stick. The expression das Nachsehen haben means to end up worse off or to suffer the consequences. Examples: Wenn dein Plan nicht klappt, hast du das Nachsehen. In everyday language it conveys a sense of being left with the less favorable result.

Etymology and related forms: nachsehen comes from nach- plus sehen, combining the idea of following or checking after something by looking. Related verbs include nachschlagen (to look up), prüfen (to verify), and nachschauen (to take a quick look). The concept is present in both everyday and formal contexts, with nuances ranging from casual checking to careful verification.