Surface
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poli
March 05, 2010, 06:21 AM
The table has a smooth surface.
The ocean has a rough surface today.
On the surface she appears to be a calm person
The earth's surface is largley made up of water
I don't think superficie is always the best word for surface in Spanish. Can
someone clarify this for me?
chileno
March 05, 2010, 08:24 AM
The table has a smooth surface.
The ocean has a rough surface today.
On the surface she appears to be a calm person
The earth's surface is largley made up of water
I don't think superficie is always the best word for surface in Spanish. Can
someone clarify this for me?
It fits perfectly in Spanish.
AngelicaDeAlquezar
March 05, 2010, 09:34 AM
I don't think superficie is always the best word for surface in Spanish. Can someone clarify this for me?
I agree with Hernán... :thinking:
The table has a smooth surface.
La superficie de la mesa es lisa.
The ocean has a rough surface today.
La superficie del mar está desapacible.
(Personally, in this case, I'd prefer "el mar está picado".)
On the surface she appears to be a calm person.
En la superficie, parece ser una persona calmada.
(I'd rather use "aparenta ser una persona calmada")
The earth's surface is largley made up of water.
La superficie fe la tierra está mayormente compuesta de agua.
poli
March 05, 2010, 10:03 AM
Thanks both of you. I never felt comfortable using the word because I thought it sounded like English translated
chileno
March 05, 2010, 08:20 PM
Thanks both of you. I never felt comfortable using the word because I thought it sounded like English translated
Have thought that maybe it's the other way around? :wicked: :whistling:
You never know...:)
xchic
March 05, 2010, 10:54 PM
Have thought that maybe it's the other way around? :wicked: :whistling:
You never know...:)
Of course that's just as likely, if not more so:hmm:
I know what poli means though - superficie sounds like superficial which usually has a different meaning in English.
irmamar
March 06, 2010, 12:07 AM
Of course that's just as likely, if not more so:hmm:
I know what poli means though - superficie sounds like superficial which usually has a different meaning in English.
Which meaning? I think that more or less the English word "superficial" can be translated into Spanish as "superficial". :thinking:
She has a superficial beauty.
Su belleza es superficial.
He's a very superficial person, you can't talk about anything with him, he's only interested in look
Es una persona muy superficial, no puedes hablar con ella de nada, sólo está interesada en su físico.
I have a superficial knowledge about this topic.
Tengo un conocimiento superficial de este tema.
:thinking: :)
Perikles
March 06, 2010, 01:58 AM
He's a very superficial person, you can't talk about anything with him, he's only interested in look
I have a superficial knowledge about this topic.
he's only interested in looks
I have a superficial knowledge of this topic.
My knowledge of this topic is very superficial. :):)
xchic
March 06, 2010, 04:25 AM
Which meaning? I think that more or less the English word "superficial" can be translated into Spanish as "superficial". :thinking:
She has a superficial beauty.
Su belleza es superficial.
He's a very superficial person, you can't talk about anything with him, he's only interested in look
Es una persona muy superficial, no puedes hablar con ella de nada, sólo está interesada en su físico.
I have a superficial knowledge about this topic.
Tengo un conocimiento superficial de este tema.
:thinking: :)
Yes, but I tend to more usually think of it as meaning trite, trivial, insignificant - describing a person as in your second example - rather than ever describing the surface of a thing.
Maybe it's just me:thinking:
Perikles
March 06, 2010, 05:23 AM
Yes, but I tend to more usually think of it as meaning trite, trivial, insignificant - describing a person as in your second example - rather than ever describing the surface of a thing.
Maybe it's just me:thinking:I think that is really what is meant in the second example as well. It isn't her surface which is being described, but a beauty which is fleeting or - er - superficial. I can't think of a sensible example of superficial just meaning 'pertaining to a surface' :thinking:
chileno
March 06, 2010, 08:01 AM
I think that is really what is meant in the second example as well. It isn't her surface which is being described, but a beauty which is fleeting or - er - superficial. I can't think of a sensible example of superficial just meaning 'pertaining to a surface' :thinking:
The scratch was only superficial.
Perikles
March 06, 2010, 08:10 AM
The scratch was only superficial.Correct, but this usually means it doesn't matter, it is insignificant.
Edit: I've just thought one one. The superficial veins in the hand are visible. This is the literal meaning of superficial, i.e. on or pertaining to the surface, compared with veins deeper under the skin. Much more often is the transfer of the meaning to something trivial.
chileno
March 06, 2010, 08:19 AM
Correct, but this usually means it doesn't matter, it is insignificant.
Nonetheless, it still refers to the surface.
Edit: I've just thought one one. The superficial veins in the hand are visible. This is the literal meaning of superficial, i.e. on or pertaining to the surface, compared with veins deeper under the skin. Much more often is the transfer of the meaning to something trivial.
Like with my example? :rolleyes: :D
Perikles
March 06, 2010, 08:25 AM
Nonetheless, it still refers to the surface. ....Like with my example? :rolleyes: :D*sigh* yes. :p:)
irmamar
March 06, 2010, 12:09 PM
How would you say "una capa superficial de hielo (o de polvo)? :thinking:
Perikles
March 06, 2010, 12:44 PM
How would you say "una capa superficial de hielo (o de polvo)? :thinking:A thin layer of ice / dust :)
irmamar
March 06, 2010, 12:46 PM
A thin layer of ice / dust :)
And a surface layer? :thinking:
Perikles
March 06, 2010, 12:53 PM
And a surface layer? :thinking:Yes, that's OK as well. :)
irmamar
March 06, 2010, 12:55 PM
Yes, that's OK as well. :)
OK. Thanks. :)
AngelicaDeAlquezar
March 07, 2010, 10:52 AM
@xchic: I think one can say in Spanish about a person, that he/she is superficial when they just care about trivial subjects... :thinking: (I don't sense any English influence in there)
María es muy superficial. Sólo habla de revistas de moda.
María is a superficial person. She only talks about fashion magazines.
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