Sind wir denn nie schön genug?
Are we never beautiful enough? – "Schön genug" by Lina Maly
In a culture often preoccupied with perfection and appearances, German singer-songwriter Lina Maly’s heartfelt song “Schön genug” (“beautiful enough”) reminds us there is much beauty to be found in imperfection – in ourselves, in others, and in the world around us. Do we dare to stop striving for perfection and accept ourselves “so wie wir sind” (just as we are)?
The song’s questioning refrain also gives us a chance to look more closely at asking questions in German. For extra practice with the language in this song, take a look at the lyric video.
Sind wir denn nie schön genug?
Are we never beautiful enough?
Ist es hier nie schön genug?
Is it never beautiful enough here?
Sind wir denn nie schön genug?
Are we never beautiful enough?
So wie wir sind, sind wir so viel zu schnell zu müde oder blind
As we are, we are too quickly too tired or blind
When it comes to word order in German sentences, one rule usually reigns supreme – the sentence’s conjugated verb stands an zweiter Stelle, or in second position. This could mean that it’s the second word after the sentence’s subject, or the second “element” after a time expression or dependent clause.
Ich lese ein Buch.
I’m reading a book. (Conjugated verb “lese” comes second after the sentence’s subject “ich”.)Heute lese ich ein Buch.
I’m reading a book today. (Conjugated verb “lese” comes second after time expression “heute”.)Wenn ich Zeit habe, lese ich ein Buch.
When I have time, I read a book. (Conjugated verb of main clause “lese” comes second after dependent clause “Wenn ich Zeit habe”.)
However, this rule does not always apply when it comes to Fragesätze, or questions. In German – much like in English – a question’s conjugated verb will often appear at the beginning – or erste Stelle – of the sentence. This is what we see in the refrain of “Schön genug”:
Sind wir denn nie schön genug?
Are we never beautiful enough?Ist es hier nie schön genug?
Is it never beautiful enough here?Sind wir denn nie schön genug?
Are we never beautiful enough?
It’s worth noting that we do see an exception to this exception, if you will, when Fragewörter, or question words, are in play – this are the “W” words such as was (what), wer (who), wie (how), wann (when), etc. In these cases, the Fragewort begins the question and conjugated verb is once again an zweiter Stelle:
Was machst du am Wochenende?
What are you doing on the weekend?Wer ist dein bester Freund?
Who is your best friend?Wie geht es dir heute?
How are you doing today?
For a few more examples of verb order in Fragesätze (along with more info on personal pronouns such as ich, du, and wir), check out the song post for “Gewinner” by Clueso.
Here are a few additional words from “Schön genug” to add to your vocabulary list:
das Ding / die Dinge – the thing / the things
die Worte – the words
das Gesicht – the face
die Stadt – the city
ausmalen – to paint
der Riss / die Risse – the crack / the cracks
bewegen – to move
perfekt – perfect
nie – never
schön – beautiful
genug – enough
die Liebe – the love
der Spiegel – the mirror
die Lösung – the solution
die Perfektion – the perfection