auffassen

Auffassen is a German verb with several related meanings centered on grasping, understanding, or interpreting something. The basic sense is to perceive or comprehend the meaning of what is said or presented, for example when reading a text or listening to a remark. It also describes taking something to be a certain way, as in "eine Bemerkung als Kritik auffassen" (to take a remark as criticism) or "das lässt sich so auffassen" (that can be interpreted that way).

Grammatical note: Auffassen is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense the prefix is separated: "Ich fasse das so auf." The past participle is "aufgefasst" (e.g., "Ich habe das falsch aufgefasst"). In subordinate clauses the prefix tends to appear at the end: "…, wie man es auffassen könnte."

Usage and nuances: The verb is often used with expressions like "als [Nomen] auffassen" or "so auffassen," indicating a particular interpretation or understanding. It can describe both literal comprehension (understanding a concept) and interpretive judgment (interpreting a remark, a text, or a situation). A related sense is to "take something to be the case," which also covers implications or conclusions drawn from information.

Auffassung (noun): The corresponding noun is die Auffassung, meaning understanding, conception, or personal/view. It is used to refer to a position or interpretation: "eine Auffassung vertreten," "eine andere Auffassung," or "die Auffassung des Autors." Common collocations include "eine Auffassung von ..." and "damit übereinstimmen oder widersprechen," depending on context.

See also: synonyms include verstehen, interpretieren, aufnehmen. The term is standard in academic and everyday language when discussing interpretation or comprehension.