Mobbing vs. Schikane
While both Mobbing and Schikane describe forms of harassment in German, they differ significantly in their scope, duration, and systematic nature. Mobbing refers to long-term, repeated psychological bullying, whereas Schikane often describes more isolated or petty acts of malicious vexation.
Mobbing
B1Mobbing is a loanword from English but has a more specific and severe meaning in German. It describes a systematic, hostile, and repeated campaign of psychological abuse against an individual over a longer period. It typically occurs in a group context, such as a workplace or school, and often involves a power imbalance. The goal is to isolate, intimidate, and emotionally harm the victim. It is not a single act but a continuous process.
Mobbing am Arbeitsplatz ist ein Kündigungsgrund.
(Bullying in the workplace is a reason for dismissal.)
Das ständige Ausgrenzen und die Verbreitung von Gerüchten waren klare Anzeichen von Mobbing.
(The constant exclusion and spreading of rumors were clear signs of bullying.)
Cybermobbing, das Mobbing im Internet, ist ein wachsendes Problem unter Jugendlichen.
(Cyberbullying, which is bullying on the internet, is a growing problem among young people.)
Schikane
B2Schikane refers to an act of petty harassment, malicious annoyance, or deliberate creation of difficulties. It is often carried out by someone in a position of power (like a boss or a public official) to vex another person. A Schikane can be a one-time event or occur sporadically. While a series of Schikanen can escalate into Mobbing, a single act is just a Schikane. The key idea is mean-spirited and arbitrary obstruction or pestering.
Der Beamte verlangte ein weiteres unnötiges Dokument, was eine reine Schikane war.
(The official demanded another unnecessary document, which was pure harassment.)
Sein Chef teilte ihm aus reiner Schikane immer die unbeliebtesten Aufgaben zu.
(Out of pure spite, his boss always assigned him the most unpopular tasks.)
Die ständigen, kleinlichen Kontrollen durch den Vorgesetzten fühlen sich wie Schikane an.
(The constant, petty checks by the supervisor feel like harassment.)
Die Nachbarin parkt ihr Auto nur aus Schikane so, dass ich kaum aus meiner Einfahrt komme.
(The neighbor parks her car just to be malicious in such a way that I can barely get out of my driveway.)
Summary
In essence, Mobbing is a sustained, systematic campaign of psychological terror, often by a group, aimed at destroying a victim's self-esteem over time. It is a process. Schikane, on the other hand, is typically a smaller-scale, often singular or sporadic act of petty harassment or malicious annoyance, frequently stemming from an abuse of power in a specific situation. A series of Schikanen can evolve into Mobbing, but a single act of Mobbing does not exist—the pattern is what defines it.