German Phrase
Schau dir die Nährwertangaben genau an.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to examine the nutrition facts on a product very carefully. It is a friendly, informal command often used when discussing food labels, diet plans, or health‑conscious shopping.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to draw a person’s attention to the detailed nutritional information on a food package, in a grocery store, during a cooking demonstration, or while advising a friend about healthy eating.
✦Grammar Breakdown
SchaudirdieNährwertangabengenauan
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Schau’ is the informal imperative form of ‘schauen’ used for giving a direct command to ‘du’.
Reflexive dative ‘dir’
‘dir’ is the dative reflexive pronoun that pairs with ‘schauen’ when you tell someone to look at something for themselves.
Separable verb ‘ansehen’
‘an’ is the separable prefix of the verb ‘ansehen’; in the imperative it moves to the end of the clause.
Adverb ‘genau’
‘genau’ modifies the verb phrase and means ‘exactly’ or ‘carefully’, emphasizing the thoroughness of the look.
🗨In Conversation
Ich überlege, ob ich das neue Müsli kaufen soll.
I'm thinking about whether to buy the new muesli.
Schau dir die Nährwertangaben genau an.
Take a close look at the nutrition facts.
✕Common Mistakes
Schau die Nährwertangaben an.
Missing the reflexive dative ‘dir’; the command sounds incomplete without it.
Schauen Sie die Nährwertangaben genau an.
The verb ‘schauen’ must be in the imperative ‘schauen Sie’ for formal address; the correct form is ‘Schauen Sie sich die Nährwertangaben genau an.’
Schau dir genau die Nährwertangaben an.
Placing ‘genau’ before the object is less natural; it should modify the verb phrase: ‘genau an.’
↔Alternatives
Sieh dir die Nährwertangaben genau an.
Take a close look at the nutrition facts.
Lies die Nährwertangaben sorgfältig durch.
Read the nutrition facts carefully.
Prüfe die Nährwertangaben genau.
Check the nutrition facts precisely.
Cultural Tip
In Germany, food packaging must list detailed Nährwertangaben (energy, fat, sugars, protein, etc.). Germans often compare these values to decide between products, especially for sugar or calorie content. In a shop you’d normally use the formal ‘Sie’ – ‘Schauen Sie sich die Nährwertangaben genau an.’ – unless you’re speaking with friends or family.