What is sehnsucht? HELP!

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Hmmm, I'm interested in understanding the concept of Sehnsucht.
I read this article on wikipedia :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sehnsucht_%28C._S._Lewis%29 , but i still haven't really aphehended the meaning of the word. I've also searched the internet with satisfactory answers. :/
Could please also point out the differences between Sehnsucht and the portuguese word, saudade ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudade

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Sehnsucht is a German word, and the meaning is not so easily translated
with one word. Sehnsucht means you're longing for something/someone;
it's a yearning/craving that is usually combinded with some nostalgic
melancholic thoughts.

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When you use wiki again, you'll see:

Quote:

Sehnsucht is a German word meaning "longing", which C. S. Lewis used as a synonym for "joy". It is has overtones of desire and nostalgia not found in any comparable English word. See Wiktionary entry for "Sehnsucht".

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Okay, that would have been a lot easier to just look up wikipedia Very Happy

Walter, but don't you agree, that Sehnsucht is really more than longing,
it's rather difficult to convey the exact meaning of it, you've got to
have a feel for it to completely understand.

I don't think the word "joy" could be compared.

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Agreed - though most of my shensucht to varius things included a lot of vorfreude :wink:

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What is sehnsucht? HELP!

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