Skip to content

Anstandspflicht

duty of decency

noun AN-shtants-pflikht Rare
People & Society Values

Also means

obligation of propriety

Usage Note

Anstandspflicht is the social norm or legal duty to behave decently and with propriety towards others. In German civil law the principle of Anstand und gute Sitten (decency and good morals) can limit contracts; in everyday use it is a moral expectation.

Examples

"Es gehört zur Anstandspflicht, ältere Menschen im Bus sitzen zu lassen."

Natural Translation

It is part of the duty of decency to let elderly people sit in the bus.

Literal Translation

It belongs to-the decency-duty, elderly people in-the bus sitting to let.

Explore German by topic