understandable
/,ʌndə'stændəbl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Capable of being understood; comprehensible: Describes something that can be grasped mentally, whose meaning or reason is clear.
- Able to be sympathized with; reasonable: Describes a feeling, reaction, or situation that is natural and expected, making it easy to empathize with.
Usage and Examples
- As an adjective (describing a thing or concept):
- The teacher's explanation was clear and understandable. (The explanation could be easily comprehended by the students.)
- The document is written in understandable language, free of jargon. (The language used makes the document easy to understand.)
- As an adjective (describing a feeling or reaction):
- Given the circumstances, her anger is completely understandable. (Her anger is a natural and reasonable reaction to the situation.)
- It's understandable that you're nervous before a big presentation. (The feeling of nervousness is expected and easy to sympathize with.)
Advanced Usage
- "It is understandable that...": A common phrase used to introduce and validate a particular feeling or reaction.
- It is understandable that the public is concerned about the new policy. (The public's concern is a reasonable and expected response.)
- "Perfectly / completely / entirely understandable": Adverbs used for emphasis to state that something is wholly reasonable or comprehensible.
- Your confusion is perfectly understandable; the instructions were very unclear. (Your confusion is completely justified.)
Variants and Related Words
- Understand (verb): To perceive the meaning, reason, or cause of something.
- I understand the problem now.
- Understanding (noun/adj):
- (Noun) The ability to comprehend or sympathize.
- She has a deep understanding of the subject.
- (Adjective) Sympathetic and tolerant.
- He was very understanding about my mistake.
- Misunderstandable (adj, less common): Capable of being misunderstood.
- His vague statement was easily misunderstandable.
Synonyms
- Comprehensible: Able to be understood.
- Intelligible: Clear enough to be understood.
- Clear: Easy to perceive or understand.
- Reasonable: Based on good sense; fair and sensible (often for reactions/feelings).
Antonyms
- Incomprehensible: Impossible to understand.
- Unintelligible: Impossible to understand, often due to being unclear or garbled.
- Unfathomable: Incapable of being fully understood or explored.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Make oneself understood": To communicate one's meaning clearly to others.
- He doesn't speak the language well, but he manages to make himself understood.
- "Give someone to understand": To cause someone to believe something; to imply.
- She gave me to understand that the job was mine. (She led me to believe I had gotten the job.)
Adjective
- capable of being apprehended or understood