What is the meaning, and why tocar?
What does this mean? And why is tocar being used? "porque nos toca aceptar ser solo amigos. Y al saludarnos simplemente dar la mano."
6 Answers
Because we have to accept being just friends, and on greeting each other, simply shake hands.
Tocar when used with me/te/nos/le etc. in Colombian Spanish is the same as tener que, when used on it's own it means hay que.
See the last entry of number 9 of tocar in the SD dictionary. It´s sometimes used to express having to do something or being someone´s turn to do something.
"Because we´ve got to accept just being friends and simply shake hands when we greet each other."
Check out number 10 under the definition of tocar...
(caer en suerte) me ha tocado la lotería -> I've won the lottery le ha tocado sufrir mucho -> he has had to suffer a lot
So, I'm reading it as...
Because we have to accept just being friends. And just shaking hands upon greeting each other.
Tocar here is being used in a similar way to our somewhat outdated word "befall" (because it has befallen us to accept just being friends)
Also, understand, it is very different if it is a question or a statement. If it is a question, then it is asking "Why do we have to accept just being friends?"
NOTE: but be advised, these are the opinions of a non-native.
Shakespeare said once:
"All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players, they have their exits and their entrances, and one man can play many parts on his life."
Well, now is your turn to play only as friends - Ahora les toca actuar solo como amigos.
This means, "Why can't we choose to be just friends? And greet each other simply by shaking hands?"
Because it's our turn to accept to just be friends. And upon greeting (saying hi / seeing one another), simply shake hands.
That's what I see, might be off a bit.
Tocar can mean "to be your turn" te toca = it's your turn.
