English Translation
I am uncomfortable in these new shoes.
“Unbequem” would be a better translation of “uncomfortable” in this context?
Yes, “unbequem” is a more literal translation of “uncomfortable”, but no, it can’t be used in this context.
You see, you can’t translate “I am uncomfortable” as “Ich bin unbequem”, because “unbequem” doesn’t work that way. It’s basically the same as with “I am hot” and “Ich bin heiß”.
“unbequem” always means “causes discomfort”, never “feel discomfort”.
So if you say “Ich bin unbequem” you mean “I am a nuisance (to others)”.
You can however say “Diese neuen Schuhe sind unbequem”.
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English Translation
I am uncomfortable in these new shoes.
Sorry pitti42, I am not convinced. “unbequem” is an adjective,and Schuhen is a noun and unless the grammar rules have change since I was at school 65 yeaes ago -adjectives modify nouns. (Or is that not the convention in German ?)
Yes, “unbequem” is an adjective and “Schuhe” is a noun. That does not mean “bequem” modifies “Schuhe” when you say “Ich bin unbequem in diesen neuen Schuhen”. It modifies “Ich”, and that does not make sense.
So either it’s the “Schuhe” that are “unbequem”, or it’s “Ich” who “feels discomfort” caused by them, but you can’t use “unbequem” to express the latter.
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