Translation

Translation
 

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

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

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

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.

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? :)

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

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?

dressed as a clown....

dressed in a costume...

dressed in a clown's costume..

He portrayed a clown in the play...

My :twocents:

Thank you, Elaina! :rose:

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".

Thank you again, wrholt! :rose: