The difference in bien and bueno.

Question

I always thought that bien essentially equaled "well" or a state of being while bueno was the English equilavent of good. If I were to say "Mi español es no muy bueno" ...would that be correct? I can't recall the specific example, but at times when I use these two words it seems like I get some funny looks...

Answer 1

Parece que los dos se pueden usar.

? gente (de) bien (=los ricos) well-off people, well-to-do people

Creo que "gente bien" es una manera corta de decir "gente bien nacida."

Answer 2

Elguapo,
Your examples don't support your statement that bién can function as an adjective. Can you think of any examples of such a case?

Randy should be aware that, at least in parts of Latin America, he will hear people say "Está bueno." In fact, that phrase gets nearly two million googits. The nuance is different from "es bueno."

BTW, while Dunia has already explained that bueno must come (as buen) before the noun corredor above, I'll add that you have to use an article (un/una) whenever a noun is modified by an adjective.

ÿl es marinero.
ÿl es un buen marinero.

Ella es jugadora.
Ella es una jugadora magnífica.

Answer 3

we don't use the personal pronoun

Gracias....comprendo

Answer 4

Your explanation es ok.

But it is: es un buen corredor (he runs very fast)

Es un corredor bueno (it sounds as if you're saying the runner is a kind person)

It isn't the same to say:

Es una gran persona (moral size)
Es un persona grande (physical size)

Answer 5

lol, ever read a thread and feel like you have learned something and yet you know nothing still. I searched this because a student asked me and I could only answer "lo que suena bien." Which really doesn't help them because the are still learning how is is supposed to sound. =)

Answer 6

Ahh, bien! Gracias, heidita

Answer 7

Gente bien en España no se usa. Y no se considería correcto, vamos suena raro.

en España se ha impuesto la traducción del inglés: gente guapa (beautiful people)

Bien y bueno, al principio de la frase es prácticamente lo mismo.
Well, let's see:
bien, veamos...

bueno, veamos

Answer 8

Thank you, Randy, I was wondering about the same.

I would like to add a question. When you use 'bien' and bueno' at the beginning of a sentence, what is the difference? And when you just use it as a short answer or comment?
Is "Bien,...." meaning "Good,..."
- and "Bueno,..." meaning "Well,..." '

Answer 9

James, I feel the same way about this site! It's great to have a place to not only learn more, but especially to be corrected and get explanations for it!
My boyfriend and his friends NEVER correct me, unless I force them, haha! 'Cause they just think it's cool I'm trying to speak spanish at all..

Answer 10

Okay, pero a mi no me suena bien eso. quizas para otros paises si esta bien dicho.

Answer 11

I agree with you Gustavo, "gente de bien" también quiere decir gente buena o gente de buena posición (los ricos).

Answer 12

No, gente bien is definitely correct. There is a telenovela and a magazine of that name, and a movie with that title.

http://www.gentebien.info/

I think a good translation of this in many cases would be "upscale."

Answer 13

Para mi "gente bien" no esta bien dicho o estoy equivocada'

Answer 14

You mean "Son gente de bien" and "ellos son de buena familia"

Answer 15

Wierd language isn't it. Oops, Weird