• 🍉 Albert 🍉@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    but it works because abstract concepts are things an individual can own.

    Like “Tengo quidado” is “i own the the abstract concept of care”.

    it could work in English, but it just sounds strange or poetic, like “i have hunger”

    • Sneezycat@sopuli.xyz
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      2 days ago

      I don’t think so, it’s not like you can have a monopoly on hunger or sleepiness. “Tener/to have” doesn’t mean to own.

      In English you can say “I have feelings” but not “I have sadness”, because they don’t consider emotions to be “things”.

    • teft@piefed.world
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      2 days ago

      Quidar isn’t a Spanish verb I’m familiar with. I assume you meant cuidar.

      Tengo cuidado would translate to “I am careful” literally it’d be like “I have care”.

        • teft@piefed.world
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          2 days ago

          Si no tengo cuidado, un antojo repentino puede arruinar fácilmente mi dieta.

          If I’m not careful, a snack attack can easily ruin my diet.

          There are many translations for different phrases.