German - Anfangen and Beginnen?

Question

How are these verbs used and how are they different and please give examples of both in a sentence or two. thanks

Answer 1

"beginnen" und "anfangen" mean the same.
You can always use "anfangen" instead of "beginnen".
Some has already mentioned a second meaning for "anfangen" as in "ich kann damit nichts anfangen" "I can't do anything with it" (if an actual thing is meant) or "I don't know what he/she/they actually mean(s)" (when a sentence/statement is meant) - that is a second meaning of "anfangen"

@tb_rules - sorry, you picked the wrong meaning of race
what you meant is "Rennen" like a car race etc. but you chose "Menschenschlag, Rasse" like in human race


So it should be:
Sie beginnen das Rennen.
Sie fangen mit dem Rennen an.
Sie starten das Rennen. (The most common way to say it)

Answer 2

Fangen An And Beginnen Both Have The Same Meaning And Prolly Either Can Be Used

Answer 3

They are synonyms, I'm pretty sure.

Beginnen can be used:
Sie beginnen der Menschschlag.
(They start the race.)

Anfangen:
Sie fangen der Menschschlag an.
(They start the race.)

They can both have even more meanings. I suggest using the site: http://dict.leo.org

It always helps me when I'm writing a paper and need a word.

P.S. "Ich will mit dem Briefeschreiben anfangen," from above should be, "Ich will mit dem Brief schreiben anfangen, "and actually means, "I want to take up writing the letter," or, what sounds more proper in english, "I want to start writing the letter."

Answer 4

I am a native german speaker.
There is no difference in the meaning of "Anfangen" and "Beginnen", the difference is, that "Beginnen" is high language and "Anfangen" the word in common use.

Answer 5

I can think of one use of "anfangen" which is different in meaning than "beginnen":
Ich kann wirklich nichts damit anfangen = I really can't do anything with that (being unable to proceed or facing an impossible situation).
You'll often hear Germans say: "Was soll ich damit anfangen?" which is the same thing that English speakers mean when we say, "What am I supposed to do with that?"

Answer 6

My mom can help you. She's from Germany.

Ich will mit dem Briefeschreiben anfangen. It means"I will start with my letter writing"

Est ist Zeit, dass vir uns beginnen zu verstehen. It means "It's time we begin to understand each other."