German phrase
Was verstehen Sie unter ~?
Meaning
What do you understand by ___?
When to use it
Ask what a term means. This polite phrase asks about someone's interpretation.
Example dialogue
Was verstehen Sie unter dem Begriff Demokratie?
What do you understand by the term democracy?
Darunter verstehe ich freie Wahlen, Meinungsfreiheit und Rechtsstaatlichkeit.
By that, I mean free elections, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.