train of thought
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train of thought
The way in which a person thinks and arrives at a conclusion or idea; a sequence of considerations.
Ich kann deinem Gedankengang nicht ganz folgen, kannst du das bitte noch einmal erklären?
I can't quite follow your train of thought; could you please explain it again?
The word is a figurative compound made up of 'Gedanke' (thought) and 'Gang' (walk/course). It describes the sequence of thoughts like a route or path that one can follow.
Ihr Gedankengang war brillant und führte zu einer einfachen Lösung.
Her train of thought was brilliant and led to a simple solution.
'Gedankengang' (train of thought) is frequently combined with verbs of understanding. Typical expressions are 'einem Gedankengang folgen' (to follow a train of thought), 'einen Gedankengang nachvollziehen' (to understand/retrace a train of thought), or 'einen Gedankengang erklären' (to explain a train of thought).
Es fällt mir schwer, seinen Gedankengang nachzuvollziehen.
I find it difficult to understand his train of thought.
The word is very often used with a possessive pronoun (mein, dein, ihr, sein... — my, your, her, his...) to make clear whose thinking process is meant.
Kannst du mir deinen Gedankengang dazu bitte erläutern?
Could you please explain your train of thought on that to me?
