Capire vs. comprendere
The Italian verbs 'capire' and 'comprendere' both mean 'to understand' or 'to comprehend', but they have subtle differences in usage and connotation.
Capire
'Capire' is more commonly used in everyday language and often refers to grasping or understanding a concept, situation, or information quickly or intuitively.
Non capisco questa lezione di matematica.
(I don't understand this math lesson.)
Hai capito cosa intendo?
(Did you understand what I mean?)
Capisco il tuo punto di vista.
(I understand your point of view.)
Comprendere
'Comprendere' is often used in more formal or literary contexts and implies a deeper, more thorough understanding or comprehension of complex ideas or situations.
Il filosofo cerca di comprendere l'esistenza umana.
(The philosopher seeks to comprehend human existence.)
È difficile comprendere appieno le conseguenze di questa decisione.
(It's difficult to fully comprehend the consequences of this decision.)
Cerco di comprendere le motivazioni del suo comportamento.
(I'm trying to understand the motivations behind his behavior.)
Summary
While 'capire' is more common in everyday speech and often refers to quick understanding, 'comprendere' is used in more formal contexts and implies a deeper, more analytical comprehension. Both verbs are useful, but their usage depends on the context and the depth of understanding being conveyed.