Does Tricky = Tramposo? or not? or only sometimes?
Can someone please help me. I am finding it difficult to understand why it is that sometimes I am taught a word by one person (teacher, native Spanish speaker, born in Spain) and then when I later use it I am told that it is incorrect by another person (teacher, native Spanish speaker, born in Spain). This is not a rare occurrence and is often blamed on the difference between Spanish from Spain versus Spanish from South America. However since both people I am speaking with are Spanish I don’t believe that to be the reason. I also generally find examples of the word in use in various internet resources so I am wondering if my experiences are because;
• 1 or other of my teachers is wrong,
• My teachers are not aware of the regional differences in Spanish from one part of Spain to another and therefore assume that if it is not the way they speak then it must be something South American,
• Lots of internet resources are incorrect. (I know this to be true),
• I am not understanding the meaning of the word in the context in which I am using it. (this seems to me to be the most likely).
The example today is; “Tricky” – adjective, meaning something that traps you as it is difficult to understand and likely to mislead or deceive you. The spanish word I was told to use is “Tramposo”. But I have today been told that it is incorrect to use it in this sentence; “A mí, el cambio de hora invierno/verano es un poco tramposo.” I have compared this to the examples I have found of “tramposo” in use and I am at a loss to understand what I am doing incorrectly. Examples I have found follow;
From Spanishdict:
Separar los efectos del presupuesto en la economía de los efectos de la economía en el presupuesto es tramposo. = Separating the budget’s effects on the economy from those of the economy on the budget is tricky.
Este es un asunto tramposo. = This is a tricky business.
From Reverso Contexto:
The weather can be so tricky here. = El clima puede ser tramposo aquí.
You know, Byron, this is a tricky business. = Sabes, Byron, este es un negocio tramposo.
This is a tricky gift you've got. = Este don que tienes es tramposo.
Hold on, guys, there's a tricky bit up here. = Espérese un momento, los amigos, Hay un pedacito tramposo arriba aquí.
He's usually quite nice, but it's a bit tricky with banks. = Es buen tipo, pero es un poco tramposo con los bancos.
Well, that's kind of tricky, since I no longer have any tickets. = Bueno, eso es bastante tramposo, porque ya no tengo entradas.
It's a tricky cross-examination of a hostile witness, = Es un contrainterrogatorio tramposo, de un testigo hostil.
It's not just because it's tiny, tricky and difficult. = No ocurría por ser pequeño, tramposo y dificultoso.
Can anyone tell me what I am missing?
3 Answers
Tricky has different meanings:
- difícil: (proceso, trabajo)
- difícil: (situación)
Tramposo? No, that's wrong.
I'm a native Spanish speaker. We mostly use tramposo to say a person uses "tricks" to cheat in poker, gambling, in. an examen etc. I can't understand how the weather can do a trick except as a comparison. Maybe it is that un English the word tricky has more meanings. Juan es tramposo.Copia en todos los exámenes.
Las preguntas del profesor fueron tramposas. Nos hizo preguntas sobre temas que no dimos durante el curso.
Probably in Spanish there must be INTENTION . Probably Spanish and English speakers could have different viewpoints. I always remember how surprised we, Spanish speakers are, when we are told lettuce is an uncontable noun and you cannot say ONE lettuce, two lettuceS etc. For us it is more than evident that you have UNA LECHUGA, DOS LECHUGAS etc. r
Lets's start with the English. In one sense, "tricky" means "somewhat difficult" so you can use "difícil or dificilito" or "un poco difícil."
Another sense that I know of is "delicate." as in a delicate situation.
So in that case, you can use "delicado(a)"
To "trick someone by deception" is" engañar" so your adjective would be "engañoso(a)."
