How to give clear advice?

Question

She likes you, but you can't make her want you.

Te gusta, pero no puedas hacerla quererte.

Context: A guy friend is enamored with a girl I know. She thinks he's a nice guy, but she's just not that into him. She's not interested in him as boyfriend material. He doesn't want to give up the chase, but I don't want to insult him. Do I need to add an "ella" somewhere? Ella te gusta, pero....

Or can I use Te quiere como un amigo, pero no puedes hacerla quererte.

Neither one looks exactly right to me. I want to be clear, but not insulting.

Answer 1

I'd say: Te quiere como un amigo, pero no puedes obligarla a que te quiera.

This sounds like a safe bet to me. Thanks - island_fever, Sep 30, 2012

Answer 2

There are numerous ways to say this. I would say "(Ella) te quiere como amigo pero nada más" "She likes you as a friend but nothing more" or "(Ella) te quiere como amigo pero no quiere tratarte" "She likes you as a friend but she doesn´t want to date you."

tratarte means to date? really? - francobollo, Sep 26, 2012

Neaat, Julian, clearly an expert in this field of broken hearts. - annierats, Sep 26, 2012

"tratarte" sounds more like "She doesn't want to try you out, take you for a spin." I'm chalking this up to "American interference", a term I think you provided for me. Thanks! - rheit, Sep 26, 2012

Is this regional? Is it what the kids are saying today? I ask, because these days, kids will say "they are talking", which basically means they are dating, but not dating exclusively. "Talking" includes texting, hanging out, and going places together - rheit, Sep 26, 2012

with or without additional friends along. So, pretty much the same as dating in the early stages. - rheit, Sep 26, 2012

@rheit -- tratar (to try or treat) vs. probar (to try out/on/to taste). Tratar is clearly not the right verb to mean to date here - francobollo, Sep 26, 2012

Thanks franco. - rheit, Sep 26, 2012

A guy actually said to a girl I know "¿Quieres probarme?" when he was imploring her for a date.. He was a native speaker, so, I'm not sure what the deal is on that one. He's Mexican, so maybe it's regional from his area of the country. - island_fever, Sep 30, 2012

Answer 3

Agony- aunt Annie's suggestion:

Ella te quiere como amigo pero no le gusta salir contigo// ella no quiere una relación sentimental.

( She likes you as afriend bu doesn't want to go out with you// she doesn't want a romantic relationship. )