chápat

Chápat is a Czech verb meaning "to understand" or "to grasp." It is an imperfective verb used to describe general or ongoing understanding, rather than a completed understanding. The perfective counterpart is pochopit, which expresses a momentary or complete realization.

In the present tense, chápat is conjugated as: já chápu, ty chápeš, on/ona chápe, my chápeme, vy chápete, oni chápou. In the past tense, Czech generally marks tense with the auxiliary být plus a short participle, so forms include já jsem chápal (masculine), já jsem chápala (feminine), and corresponding forms for other subjects. The past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject. The verb remains imperfective in most contexts, with pochopit used for a single, discrete act of understanding.

Chápat is commonly used with clauses introduced by že, to express understanding of what someone says or implies. Examples: “Chápu, co myslíš.” (I understand what you mean.) “Chápu ten problém.” (I understand that problem.) It can also appear in questions such as “Chápeš, proč to udělali?” and in metaphorical senses like “Chápat věci jinak” (to understand things differently).

Difference from related verbs: rozumět is a close synonym but sometimes emphasizes cognitive understanding rather than interpretation, while chápat can carry a nuance of grasping meaning or intention. Pochopit conveys a more sudden or complete understanding, often tied to a realization.

Etymology and regional use: chápat comes from Proto-Slavic roots and is widely used in Czech. It is also found in related Slavic languages in cognate forms, such as Slovak chápať, maintaining the same core meaning.