nachvollziehen

== German == === Etymology === nach- +‎ vollziehen. First attested in the mid-20th century. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈnaːχfɔlˌt͡siːən/ Hyphenation: nach‧voll‧zie‧hen === Verb === nachvollziehen (class 2 strong, third-person singular present vollzieht nach, past tense vollzog nach, past participle nachvollzogen, past subjunctive vollzöge nach, auxiliary haben) (transitive) to understand, to comprehend (a line of thought, a development, a motivation; with a focus on how something derives from previous steps or conditions) Synonym: verstehen (transitive) to retrace (the steps of a history or development) ==== Usage notes ==== In the sense of "understand", this verb almost exclusively occurs in combination with a modal verb (especially können) or otherwise as an infinitive. It is implied that the speaker has already given the matter at hand some thought. It is not used to describe not being able to follow an argument in the moment. Can be more objective than verstehen. Ich kann seine Entscheidung nachvollziehen means "I understand his decision" logically, but I might disagree with it, while Ich kann seine Entscheidung verstehen brings the speaker's own feelings in: "I understand his decision" and may well sympathize with it. ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Derived terms ==== nachvollziehbar === Further reading === “nachvollziehen” in Duden online “nachvollziehen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache