I understand him to be a distant relation.是什么意思？

I understand him to be a distant relation.

我知道他是一位远亲。

understand

vt.& vi. 懂，理解；vt. 了解，默认，听说，领会；

例句
Another accusation levelled at the Minister is that he does not understand ordinary people...
另一个矛头则直指部长不懂得体恤百姓。

him

pron. (he的宾格)他；

例句
They said goodbye to him as he got aboard the train at Union Station.
当他在联合火车站登上火车之际，他们向他道别。

to

prep. 向，朝着，到，关于，属于；adv. 朝一个方向的，到某种状态，关闭；

例句
I suggest you leave it to an expert...
我建议你把它留给专家来解决。

be

v. 是，有，存在，做，成为，发生；aux. 用来表示某人或某物即主语本身，用来表示某人或某物属于某一群体或有某种性质；

例句
The older child should be able to prepare a simple meal...
那个年纪稍大的孩子应当会做一顿简单的饭菜。

distant

adj. 遥远的，冷漠的，冷淡的，远离的，远隔的，不太清晰的；

例句
The distant object of his affections is Caroline...
他一厢情愿地爱慕卡罗琳。

relation

n. 关系，联系，关联，亲属；

例句
For many software packages, the price bears little relation to cost.
对于很多软件包来说，价钱和成本没有什么联系。