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im Nachhinein

in hindsight, with hindsight

adverb im NAKH-hin-ine Rare
Communication Expressions

Also means

in retrospect

Usage Note

Im Nachhinein frames a reflection that benefits from knowing how things turned out. It often introduces an acknowledgement that a past decision was wrong: Im Nachhinein war das ein Fehler. The alternative im Rückblick is less common.

Examples

"Im Nachhinein hätten wir früher reagieren sollen."

Natural Translation

In hindsight, we should have acted sooner.

Literal Translation

In-the hindsight had we earlier react should.

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