Translation

vfalkner · #1 August 24, 2012, 12:09 AM

would you say "se caracteriza POR or se caracteriza EN or CON or POR

JPablo · #2 August 24, 2012, 01:08 AM

Welcome to the forums!
I'd say,
Se caracteriza por...

"En" and/or " "con" would not be the common preposition to use.

Zacapeya · #3 August 24, 2012, 03:26 AM

Hi!

"Caracterizarse EN", means 'Dress up'.

Example: Aquel hombre se caracterizó en un pirata. / That man was characterized in a clown.

Z.

Sorry : Clown = Payaso

Z.

**AngelicaDeAlquezar** · #4 August 24, 2012, 08:18 AM

I agree with Pablo: if you're expressing someone/something's characteristics, it should be "se caracteriza por".

And it's interesting what Zacapeya says: when someone is talking about a costume, I have only heard "caracterizado de pirata/payaso...". Never heard "caracterizado en".
Anyway, most people I know would still rather say "disfrazado", as "caracterizado" is rather used by people on TV.

By the way, question for native English speakers:
When I read "the man was characterized in a clown", I tend to imagine the man found inside the clown, as a part of clown's inner characteristics.
If I try to change it to "the man was characterized as a clown", then the idea that comes to me is people considering the man a clown, without any costume needed.

Is there a way to use "characterize" in English so the sentence would clearly state that the man was wearing a clown costume?

wrholt · #5 August 24, 2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

...
Is there a way to use "characterize" in English so the sentence would clearly state that the man was wearing a clown costume?

No, at least not in general speech in North America. I can't speak for current slang/terms of art for the dramatic arts.

**AngelicaDeAlquezar** · #6 August 24, 2012, 11:25 AM

Thank you, wrholt!

Just out of curiosity, if you were to use "characterize", how would you make the sentence, and if you didn't have to use that verb, what would you rather say to state that the man was wearing a costume?

Elaina · #7 August 24, 2012, 12:46 PM

dressed as a clown....

dressed in a costume...

dressed in a clown's costume..

He portrayed a clown in the play...

My

That's my Two Cents / Mi Granito de Arena

**AngelicaDeAlquezar** · #8 August 24, 2012, 02:33 PM

Thank you, Elaina!

wrholt · #9 August 24, 2012, 05:33 PM

And adding to Elaina's suggestions:

"wearing a clown costume/outfit"

"to characterize" typically means "to describe something/someone" or "to be typical of a type of thing or type of person".

**AngelicaDeAlquezar** · #10 August 24, 2012, 08:47 PM

Thank you again, wrholt!

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