to understand
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to understand
To be able to understand and inwardly relate to another person's thoughts, feelings, actions, or arguments.
Ich kann deine Entscheidung, den Job zu wechseln, absolut nachvollziehen.
I can absolutely understand your decision to change jobs.
'Nachvollziehen' (to understand) is a separable verb. The prefix 'nach-' comes at the end in a main clause, stays attached to the verb in a subordinate clause, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' goes in the middle.
Ich ziehe deine Argumente nicht nach.
I don't understand your arguments.
The word consists of 'nach' and 'vollziehen'. Literally, it means to 'carry out afterward' a line of thought or an action in order to understand it.
Können Sie die Schritte, die zum Ergebnis führten, für mich nachvollziehen?
Can you understand the steps that led to the result for me?
The verb 'nachvollziehen' (to understand) needs a direct object in the accusative. You always understand 'something', for example a decision, a feeling, or a reason.
Ich kann deine Frustration gut nachvollziehen.
I can understand your frustration well.
to follow
'folgen' and 'nachvollziehen' can both mean that you understand thoughts or explanations. 'folgen' is especially suitable when you can keep up step by step during an explanation or discussion. 'nachvollziehen' means that you internally understand a person's line of thought, feelings, or action. It often sounds a little deeper than 'folgen' because you understand not only the content, but also the reason or perspective. Learners may confuse the words because both fit with arguments. In short: you can follow an explanation; you can understand or relate to a decision or a feeling.
Meine Kollegin kann nachvollziehen, warum ich den Termin verschieben möchte.
My colleague can understand why I want to postpone the appointment.
Während der Besprechung konnte meine Mutter den vielen Zahlen kaum folgen.
During the meeting, my mother could hardly follow all the numbers.