to penetrate / get through
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to penetrate
To make a way through an obstacle, a substance, or a crowd; to pass through something. This form of the verb is inseparable.
Das Sonnenlicht durchdrang die dichten Wolken am Horizont.
The sunlight penetrated the thick clouds on the horizon.
This verb is special because it is separable or inseparable depending on the meaning. The stress shows the difference: stressed 'durch' (DURCHdringen) is separable, while stressed 'dringen' (durchDRINGEN) is inseparable.
Ihre Kritik ist bei der Chefin nicht durchgedrungen.
Her criticism did not get through to the boss.
As a separable verb, 'durch' moves to the end of the main clause. As an inseparable verb, 'durchdringen' always stays together, including in the past participle ('durchdrungen' vs. 'durchgedrungen').
Die Nachricht dringt langsam zu allen durch.
The news is slowly getting through to everyone.
The inseparable form is often used for physical processes in which something crosses a barrier. Think of light, water, an arrow, or a crowd.
Der Bohrer durchdrang mühelos die Wand.
The drill penetrated the wall effortlessly.
The separable form is often used to talk about the success of ideas, opinions, or people. It means that someone prevails despite resistance.
Er hofft, dass sein Vorschlag im Team durchdringt.
He hopes that his proposal gets through in the team.
In a figurative sense, the inseparable form describes the complete mental grasping of a complex topic. You 'dringt' (penetrate) into the subject matter with your mind.
Sie hat die schwierige Materie schnell durchdrungen.
She quickly grasped the difficult subject matter.
In this separable meaning, it is often about sensory impressions. Typical subjects are 'Lärm' (noise), 'Musik' (music), 'Geruch' (smell), or 'Licht' (light), which come through a barrier.
Der Geruch von Kaffee drang aus der Küche durch.
The smell of coffee came through from the kitchen.
to understand
'verstehen' and 'durchdringen' can both mean that you mentally grasp something. 'verstehen' is the normal word for both simple and difficult content. 'durchdringen' is used when something is very complex and you want to understand it truly deeply and completely. It sounds much more serious and formal than 'verstehen'. You can understand a rule, a sentence, or a question; you only 'durchdringt' a complicated system, a problem, or a theory after careful work. In everyday life, 'verstehen' is usually more natural.
Die Forscher haben das komplizierte Modell erst nach vielen Tests durchdrungen.
The researchers only grasped the complicated model after many tests.
Wir haben nach dem Gespräch verstanden, warum der Plan geändert wurde.
After the conversation, we understood why the plan had been changed.