A question about the use of "llevar"

Question

While reading a local newspaper, "Al Día", I came across a phrase in an article that has me puzzled with a word that already causes me enough grief. The word is "llevar". It seems there are so many uses for this verb and just when I thought I had a grasp of it, I saw this:

Hacer un poco de actividad fisica cada día es benefisicoso, mientras que llevar una vida sedentaria implica riesgos.

I was just curious why "llevar" was used in this instance. The actual title of the article is

"Hacer un poco de ejercicio podría traer mucho beneficio."

This seems to make more sense.

If someone could clear up why "llevar" was used here and if there are any other common examples of it being used in a similar way, that would be great.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

"..llevar una vida sedentaria implica riesgos" = ..leading a sedentary life involves risks / is risky.

As far as why llevar is used here, that's a hard question to answer, because there are thousands of expressions in Spanish that do not make sense when translated literally into English. My only tip here is just to be familiar w/ the phrasing.

When I look up the word "llevar"I see many definitions, but not "to lead". That is why I'm confused. - Nicole-B, Sep 11, 2011

Hmm, I suggest you also consult the one they have on wordreference.com, upon checking, it has "to lead" as one of its definitions. - Deanski, Sep 11, 2011

Answer 2

In this way llevar is used like carry on or maintain. "Meanwhile carrying on in a sedentary life comes with risks."

Llevar works for stuff like that, like "llevo dos años" means I'm carrying/I have/it's been two years if you were going to say something like "llevo dos años aquí" or you can use it to communicate accompaniment as is in "este estilo de vida lleva riesgos." Hopefully that helps!

Answer 3

unMica said:

In this way llevar is used like carry on or maintain. "Meanwhile carrying on in a sedentary life comes with risks."

So although it could be translated as Deanski said, and as I already thought:

"....leading a sedentary life..."

I'm guessing to the Spanish speaking mind, the way we use "lead" they use "carry" or "to carry on"?

yeah, it's hard to explain fully, but at least in cases like this you've got the right idea! - unMica, Sep 11, 2011

Thanks for the help! - Nicole-B, Sep 11, 2011

sure : ) - unMica, Sep 11, 2011