bei meaning and definition in german
Preposition
Frequency: 
+ dative
When bei is followed by the definite article dem (“the”), the two words contract to beim. However, when dem is a demonstrative pronoun, no contraction occurs. Compare:Der Baum steht zu nah beim Haus. – “The tree is too close to the house.”
Der Baum steht zu nah bei dem Haus da hinten. – “The tree is too close to that house over there.”
with, to, towards In many dialects, and historically in literary style, bei could express movement, requiring then the accusative case. This is in conflict with modern standard rules, for which reason this usage is becoming rare. Note, however, that the adverb dabei is still fairly common in regional speech: Kommt noch was dabei? – “Do you want anything else with that?” (for which dazu is proper standard). — Modern standard German features some relicts of the earlier usage in compounds such as herbei, beiseite, beilegen, beitreten, etc. Compare also the idiom “Butter bei die Fische”. Compare further Dutch bij for which all such constructions are perfect standard.
- locative by; near die Bank bei der Kirche – “the bench by the church” die Bäckerei beim Bahnhof – “the bakery near the train station”
- with a person, family, shop at Ich schlafe bei Peter. — “I’m sleeping at Peter’s [place].” Ich bin beim Metzger. — “I'm at the butcher’s.”
- with an organization or company for; at; in bei der Firma arbeiten — “to work for the firm” das Arbeitsklima bei Schmidt & Co. — “the working atmosphere at Schmidt & Co.”
- formal, reflexive with; on Er hat es nicht bei sich. — “He doesn’t have it on him.” → for which usually: Er hat es nicht dabei.
- with an event considered certain upon, at the time of bei Abfahrt des Zuges — “upon departure of the train”
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