¿Cuál es la diferencia entre golpear y tocar?

Question

What is the difference between golpear and tocar? Can both be used to indicate knocking on a door, for example?

Answer 1

Hi Jake.

"Golpear" is generally to strike or hit someone/something with you fist. For example, "Golpeé mi esposa" (I beat my wife).

"Tocar" is to touch...generally a lot different than to strike. For example, "Toqué mi esposa" (I touched my wife).

Yes, I believe that both are used to say "knock" (on a door.)

Jeje Marianne - wouldn't you be more likely to beat your husband? - geofc, May 6, 2010

lol. You wouldn't say that if you saw the size of him! - --Mariana--, May 6, 2010

Answer 2

I think I'd be more likely to "tocar el timbre" than the door; the bellpush is equally more likely to respond to a gentle "toque". But "golpear la puerta" should get some response.

As a violence rating for knocking on the door in English, (following up on qfreed) I come up with:

Tap, Rap, Knock, Bang, Pound, Hammer.

There are probably more choices. Can someone propose more choices in Spanish?

Answer 3

I think that the difference between the two words is similar to a rap on the door or a knock on the door in English. They can be synonymous, but a rap would usually connote louder, or with a fist rather than a few fingers, like knock would imply.

If you wanted to say "pound on the door" with your fist you would use golpear (a blow) rather than tocar (to knock).

Answer 4

He visto también esta frase: Llamara a la puerta, es como el frase, llamara por telephono