bestehen

exist

verb beh-SHTAY-en Common

Also means

pass

Usage Note

bestehen is a web of meanings keyed to its preposition: bestehen aus ('consist of'), bestehen auf ('insist on'), and bare bestehen meaning 'to pass' an exam or 'to exist/persist'. It is strong and inseparable: bestand, bestanden.

Examples

"Wasser besteht aus zwei Elementen."

Natural Translation

Water consists of two elements.

Literal Translation

Water consists of two elements.

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