verb
to manage, to create
A2
To manage, to create. Schaffen has two senses: manage/accomplish (Perfekt: geschafft) and create (Perfekt: geschaffen). It is non separable, non reflexive, a mixed/irregular verb using haben. Two participles show the difference: geschafft = managed, geschaffen = created. Imperative: Schaffe! (colloquial: Schaff!).
Examples
Ich schaffe das.
I can do it.
Er hat die Arbeit geschafft.
He managed to finish the work.
Das Team schaffte die schwierige Aufgabe, obwohl das Budget sehr knapp war.
The team managed the difficult task, although the budget was very tight.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone in an office crossing off a big task list labeled 'schaffen' (done)
sounds like 'shaf-fun' — imagine finishing a tough task and feeling 'shaffun' (shoved-off fun)
Notes
The verb has two common senses with different historical paradigms: (A) 'schaffen' = to manage/accomplish (weak): Präteritum schaffte, Partizip II geschafft. (B) 'schaffen' = to create (strong): Präteritum schuf, Partizip II geschaffen. Modern usage uses both paradigms depending on meaning; this entry documents both.