explainable
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explainable
In such a way that it can be explained or justified. A logical cause or reason can be found for a phenomenon or behavior.
Sein plötzlicher Wutausbruch war für niemanden im Raum erklärbar.
His sudden outburst of anger was explainable to no one in the room.
The adjective is formed from the verb 'erklären' (to explain) and the ending '-bar' (-able). The ending '-bar' means that something can be done — here, that something can be explained.
Viele Naturgesetze sind mathematisch erklärbar.
Many laws of nature are mathematically explainable.
To indicate the reason for or method of the explanation, the preposition 'durch' (through/by) is often used. The structure is then: 'etwas ist durch etwas erklärbar' (something is explainable by/through something).
Der Fehler im System war nur durch eine genaue Analyse erklärbar.
The error in the system was explainable only through a detailed analysis.
'Erklärbar' (explainable) is very often used in negative form to express that something is a mystery. Typical formulations are 'nicht erklärbar' (not explainable), 'kaum erklärbar' (hardly explainable), or 'rational nicht erklärbar' (not rationally explainable).
Warum er so gehandelt hat, ist mir einfach nicht erklärbar.
Why he acted that way is simply not explainable to me.
understandable
Both words can make a decision or behavior seem understandable. Nachvollziehbar emphasizes that others can understand the reasoning; erklärbar means that a specific cause or reason can be found for it. Use nachvollziehbar for understanding and erklärbar for the cause.
Seine Entscheidung ist erklärbar, weil der starke Zeitdruck ihn zu diesem Schritt gebracht hat.
His decision is explainable because the intense time pressure led him to take this step.
Seine Entscheidung ist nachvollziehbar, weil er seinen Gedankengang ruhig und verständlich erklärt.
His decision is understandable because he calmly explains his reasoning in a clear way.
