understand how difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "understand how difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to express sympathy and understanding towards someone's struggles or hardships. For example: "I understand how difficult it must be to manage a full-time job and care for a newborn baby at the same time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I understand how difficult this is.

The New York Times

"I understand how difficult this is," Ms. Feinstein said.

The New York Times

"People don't necessarily understand how difficult it can be.

The Guardian

"I understand how difficult the work will be".

The New York Times

Otherwise you won't understand how difficult it is to build democracy".

The New York Times

"Anyone who hasn't done it doesn't understand how difficult it is," he said.

The New York Times

It's important to understand how difficult these devices will be to produce, especially if done right.

The New York Times

"I understand how difficult it is to win every week," said the Spaniard.

The Guardian - Sport

"They need to understand how difficult it is to sign players".

The New York Times - Sports

So I understand how difficult this moment must be for Vice President Gore and his family.

The New York Times

Only pianists who have worked on this étude understand how difficult it is.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "understand how difficult", be specific about what you understand to be difficult. This shows genuine comprehension and builds trust.

Common error

Avoid using "understand how difficult" as a generic statement without demonstrating actual comprehension. Provide specific examples or details to show you genuinely understand the challenge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "understand how difficult" functions primarily as a means of conveying empathy, acknowledgement, or comprehension of a challenging situation. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and widely used. The phrase serves to connect with others by expressing recognition of their struggles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "understand how difficult" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey empathy, acknowledgement, or comprehension of a challenging situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, its widespread use across credible sources, especially in news and media, underscores its relevance in contemporary communication. Alternatives like "appreciate how difficult" and "realize how difficult" offer nuanced variations, while practical writing guidance emphasizes the importance of specificity to avoid vague acknowledgments. Overall, mastering the use of "understand how difficult" involves not just uttering the words, but genuinely connecting with the struggles of others.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Appreciate how difficult

Replaces "understand" with "appreciate", emphasizing a deeper level of recognition and value of the difficulty.

Realize how difficult

Focuses on the moment of becoming aware of the difficulty, shifting the emphasis from ongoing comprehension to a moment of realization.

Know how difficult

Highlights a state of awareness regarding the difficulty, implying previous experience or insight.

Grasp how challenging

Emphasizes the intellectual aspect of understanding, suggesting a firm hold on the complexities involved.

Comprehend the difficulty

Uses a more formal term, "comprehend", and nominalizes "difficult" to "difficulty", increasing formality.

Recognize the complexity

Highlights acknowledgment of the difficulty of a task, emphasizing formal recognition.

Be aware of the challenges

Shifts the focus to awareness of multiple challenges, implying a broader scope of difficulties.

Acknowledge the hardship

Emphasizes acknowledging the existence of hardship and its implications.

See how demanding it is

This rephrasing emphasizes the level of effort and requirements involved.

Perceive the uphill struggle

Uses figurative language to convey understanding of a prolonged and challenging effort.

FAQs

What does "understand how difficult" mean?

It expresses empathy or acknowledgement of someone's challenges, indicating that you recognize and comprehend the hardships they face.

How can I use "understand how difficult" in a sentence?

You can use it to show support or acknowledge someone's efforts, such as, "I "understand how difficult" this project has been for you, and I appreciate your hard work."

What can I say instead of "understand how difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "appreciate how difficult", "realize how difficult", or "know how difficult" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "I understand how difficult it is" and "I know how difficult it is"?

"I "understand how difficult" it is" emphasizes comprehension and empathy, while "I know how difficult it is" suggests personal experience or prior knowledge of the difficulty.