Que bien! versus Que bueno!

Question

Is there a difference between them? What do they mean exactly...I will guess they mean "How nice/wonderful" ?

i think they both mean the same thing but are used for different things. - Ellalouise, Oct 30, 2012

Answer 1

Bueno is an adjective (adjectives modify nouns... Ex. Juan es bueno. Los niños son buenos). Adjectives change in number and gender. So, for bueno, you can have: bueno, buenos, buena, buenas, depending on the noun being modified.

Bien is an adverb (it modifies a verb...Ex. Lo hiciste bien. Escribes bien. Nadas bien. Cantas bien). Adverbs remain unchanged by gender or number.

How nice! ---> ¡Qué bien! or ¡Qué bueno! depending on whether nice modifies a noun or a verb.

¡Qué bien cantas! (adverb modifying the verb cantar)

¡Qué buena amiga! (adjective modifying the noun amiga)

I hope this helps!

Thanks! - Peas, Oct 30, 2012

As always, very helpful. Thanks Franco. - katydew, Oct 30, 2012

De nada. Glad to be able to help. - francobollo, Oct 30, 2012

"Bien" can also be used as an adjective. Example: Estoy bien. - prometidodefernanda, Oct 30, 2012

Thanks mate , - ray76, Oct 30, 2012

Answer 2

Please don't take this as from a genuine grammarian but is not "estoy bien' some sort of a traditional non-grammatical phrase or a contraction. I've been leary of obvious derivations or meanings since being demolished in public by a very senior lecturer in French. I was stupid enough to suggest that "voila" (look there) departs from "vois la" (look there). It seems it doesn't. Please find me an equivalent expert in Spanish. Gekkosan - is this in your province?

Sadly the great Gekko is no longer here , greatly missed , his humour was "is" legendary, long may he reign . - ray76, Oct 30, 2012

Ouch!! - geofc, Oct 31, 2012