la mala vida or la vida mala
Gurus
My girfriend's mum always says "La gente le gusta la mala vida." meaning that people often don't wanna fight for something and just put up with bad conditions at work or elsewhere.
I'm not sure what the difference is between that and "Vivo la vida loca" as far as running order of noun and adjective goes. I do understand the big difference between
"El es un gran hombre" - He is a great guy
and
"El es un hombre grande" - He is a tall guy.
But as far as the bad/crazy life goes I cannot "feel" the difference. Is this one of those examples where it simply doesn't matter and both mean the same ? Or maybe the difference is slight in which case I'd like to understand it.
4 Answers
There are many adjectives that can vary the meaning depending on if they're at the right or at the left of the noun. You have to learn them by heart.
mala vida > can mean a life in the streets, pubs, gangs, crime, etc. vida mala > suffering in life becaue of poverty, diseases, etc.
in Mexico "la mala vida" is a common expression that generally refers to vices
"le gusta la mala vida" means something like "he goes around drunk"
"vivir mal" is another common expression in the same direction
"les gustan vivir mal" is said of a matrimony that is always fighting
"People like the low life" according to Google Translate. I think that makes since given the context you are saying. People are willing to put up with the "low life" or "sub-standard living or situations" because it is easier...not that they LIKE LIKE it but they like it because it is easier. It is almost a sarcastic way of saying they like it. Well this is my interpretation.
Martin
This doesn't sound rite. She is as Mexican as they come but she basically translated it just like English
People like the bad life.
She is trying to organize a union at work but people are afraid to join her cause they don't wanna get into trouble eventhough there are bad conditions at work. That's why she said that. It had nothing to do with vices or going around drunk. She meant that people would rather suffer than do something about their lives to improve them and I understand that. I just wanted to know about the running order of the words. Now I'm more confused.
