German Phrase
Das ist eine gute Art, Leute persönlich kennenzulernen.
Meaning
This phrase means 'That's a good way to get to know people personally.' It emphasizes the act of forming a genuine, personal connection or acquaintance with someone, rather than just knowing facts about them. The adverb 'persönlich' highlights the direct, face-to-face aspect of the interaction.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing methods or situations that facilitate genuine personal connections. For example, after attending a social event, a club meeting, or a workshop, you might say this to express that the activity was effective for meeting new people on a deeper level. It's suitable in both casual and slightly more formal conversations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DasisteineguteArt,Leutepersönlichkennenzulernen.
Das ist...
'Das ist...' (That is...) is a very common introductory phrase in German, used to refer to a general situation, an idea, or something previously mentioned. It acts as a neutral subject.
eine gute Art
'Art' (way, kind) is a feminine noun in German. Therefore, it takes the feminine indefinite article 'eine' and the adjective 'gut' takes the feminine nominative ending '-e' when preceding the noun.
kennenzulernen
This is an infinitive construction with 'zu' ('to get to know'). It's frequently used after nouns like 'Art' or 'Möglichkeit' to describe the purpose or nature of something. 'Kennenlernen' is a separable verb, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' is inserted between the prefix 'kennen-' and the verb stem '-lernen'.
🗨In Conversation
Wie war die Wandergruppe gestern?
How was the hiking group yesterday?
Es war toll! Das ist eine gute Art, Leute persönlich kennenzulernen.
It was great! That's a good way to get to know people personally.
✕Common Mistakes
Das ist eine gute Weise, Leute persönlich zu wissen.
'Wissen' means to know facts or information, while 'kennenlernen' means to get to know or become acquainted with a person or place. They are not interchangeable for this context.
Das ist ein guter Art, Leute persönlich kennenzulernen.
'Art' (way, kind) is a feminine noun in German, so it requires the feminine indefinite article 'eine' and the feminine adjective ending '-e' for 'gut', resulting in 'eine gute Art'.
Das ist eine gute Art, persönlich Leute kennenzulernen.
While not strictly incorrect, placing 'persönlich' directly before 'Leute' sounds less natural. It's more common for 'persönlich' to modify the verb 'kennenlernen' directly, as part of the infinitive clause 'Leute persönlich kennenzulernen'.
↔Alternatives
Das ist eine gute Möglichkeit, neue Leute zu treffen.
That's a good opportunity to meet new people.
So lernt man gut Leute kennen.
That's a good way to get to know people.
Das ist ein schöner Weg, um Kontakte zu knüpfen.
That's a nice way to make contacts.
Cultural Tip
Germans often value genuine, deeper connections over superficial small talk. When they say 'persönlich kennenzulernen,' it implies a desire for more than just a fleeting introduction. Activities like joining clubs (Vereine), attending Stammtische (regular's tables), or participating in community events are often seen as good ways to build these connections, as they provide shared interests and repeated interactions. Directness in communication is also common, so expressing this sentiment is usually well-received.