"chinearte" ? (chinear)

Question

Hola,

Tengo una pregunta sobre una palabra particular: "chinearte"

Mi novia y yo communicate almost exclusively in Spanish. She has used this phrase before a couple of times. I have asked her the meaning of this phrase and she has told me something like "to treat with care" I think the verb itself is probably... chinear? I was just wondering if anyone else knows more about this phrase or it's origin. Para referencia; mi novia es de Costa Rica. Tal vez es una palabra local?

Muchas gracias, O!

( Además, si cada de español aqui es mal, por favor, corrígame.

Thanks for adding your language level - Mardle, Nov 13, 2015

Answer 1

Welcome to the forum. Can you put on your profile your level of Spanish and English - anything else is entirely optional.

Are you worried she is teasing or mocking you?

It is not a word I had heard before and as in the UK to chin someone (slang) is an aggressive action, I wasn't sure what it would mean.

However, I have looked it up on word reference and in Central America the meanings are similar to what she has told you.

If you check word reference, they also have a forum where the word has been mentioned, but I haven't checked those answers.

No, It is not that I think she is poking fun at me. It is that I have already asked once and am embarrased to do so again. I believe I understand the general meaning of the word but was wondering about origin and general context it is used. - Oli_m, Nov 13, 2015

I am not a native speaker so I just checked word reference. Do that and if you are not sure ask again and hopefully a Spanish speaker from there will explain. - Mardle, Nov 13, 2015

I have checked again and looked at RAE the main Spanish dictionary. It is a lovely word stressing loving care or spoiling someone. - Mardle, Nov 13, 2015

Word reference was most helpful. I had googled the word before with the modifier: te before and the results weren't fruitful. - Oli_m, Nov 13, 2015