En 15 segundos
- Means something requires a lot of effort.
- Used for difficult tasks or people.
- Expresses a feeling of being a hassle.
- Common in everyday, casual conversation.
Significado
¡Esta frase es tu recurso para describir cualquier cosa que sea una verdadera molestia! No se trata solo de ser difícil; se trata de que te cueste tiempo, energía o paciencia. Piénsalo como un suspiro de "¡Uf, esto es mucho trabajo!", ya sea una persona, una tarea o incluso una pieza de tecnología rebelde.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 12Texting a friend about a project
Esse projeto novo dá muito trabalho, não sei se termino a tempo!
This new project is a lot of work, I don't know if I'll finish on time!
Complaining about a pet
Adoro meu cachorro, mas ele dá muito trabalho com essa mania de roer tudo.
I love my dog, but he's a lot of trouble with this habit of chewing everything.
Discussing a difficult recipe
Fazer essa receita francesa dá muito trabalho, mas o resultado vale a pena.
Making this French recipe is a lot of work, but the result is worth it.
Contexto cultural
Brazilians often use 'trabalhão' to emphasize how much work something is. The phrase is used similarly, but often with a slightly more reserved tone.
Use it for tech!
Whenever your phone or computer acts up, say 'Este celular dá trabalho'.
En 15 segundos
- Means something requires a lot of effort.
- Used for difficult tasks or people.
- Expresses a feeling of being a hassle.
- Common in everyday, casual conversation.
What It Means
This phrase, muito dar trabalho, is your expressive way to say something or someone is a hassle. It’s not just hard; it’s *annoyingly* hard. It implies a significant drain on your resources – time, energy, or even your sanity. You’ll feel the weight of effort when you use it. It’s the verbal equivalent of rolling your eyes and sighing.
How To Use It
Use muito dar trabalho when something requires excessive effort. It's versatile! You can apply it to tasks, projects, or even people. Think of it as a complaint, but a relatable one. It’s a common way to vent a little. You can say it directly or use it to describe a situation. It’s all about that feeling of being overwhelmed by the demands of something.
Real-Life Examples
Imagine your old laptop suddenly starts crashing. You'd say, "Esse computador velho dá muito trabalho!" (This old computer is a lot of trouble!). Or maybe your cat decides to redecorate your sofa with claws. "Meu gato dá muito trabalho." (My cat is a handful/causes a lot of trouble). It’s a very common, everyday expression.
When To Use It
Use muito dar trabalho for tasks that are unexpectedly complex. Like assembling IKEA furniture without the instructions – that’s definitely muito dar trabalho. Or when a friend asks you for a huge favor that takes days. It’s perfect for expressing genuine effort. Think of it as a little verbal shrug of "Wow, this is a lot."
When NOT To Use It
Don't use muito dar trabalho for simple challenges. If opening a jar is slightly difficult, it’s not muito dar trabalho. It’s for things that genuinely drain you. Avoid using it for things that are just mildly inconvenient. It’s a strong phrase, so save it for when the effort is significant. It’s not for a quick, easy task.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up dar trabalho with just trabalhar (to work). Or they might try to use muito with a different verb. It’s about the specific combination. Using a different adjective instead of muito can also sound odd. The phrase is quite fixed, so sticking to the standard form is key for sounding natural.
muito fazer trabalho
✓muito dar trabalho
✗ dar muito trabalho (while understandable, muito dar trabalho is more idiomatic)
dar esforço
✓dar trabalho
Similar Expressions
There are other ways to say something is difficult. Ser complicado (to be complicated) is similar but less about effort. Dar dor de cabeça (to give a headache) is more about stress. Ser chato (to be annoying) is more about irritation. Dar trabalho specifically highlights the *effort* involved. It’s like comparing a tough puzzle to a migraine.
Common Variations
Sometimes you'll hear dá um trabalho danado which is even stronger. Danado adds emphasis, meaning "a heck of a lot of work." Or simply dá trabalho. The muito just amplifies it. You might also hear dar um trabalhão, which is another way to emphasize the large amount of work. The core idea remains the same: it’s a struggle.
Memory Trick
Imagine a Tall Red Apple Beautifully Arranged on a Large Heap of Orange Watermelons. It’s MUCHO (Spanish for much, sounds like muito) effort to move it! The letters TRABALHO spell work, and muito means a lot. So, MUCHO TRABALHO = A LOT OF WORK! It’s a visual feast, but a physical pain to manage.
Quick FAQ
Q. Is muito dar trabalho always negative?
A. Mostly, yes. It implies a burden or difficulty. You're expressing that something is demanding your energy. It's rarely used for something you enjoy doing, even if it's hard.
Q. Can I use it for a person?
A. Absolutely! If someone is constantly demanding or difficult, you can say they dão muito trabalho. It’s a common way to describe a high-maintenance individual. Just be mindful of your tone; it can sound a bit complaining.
Q. Is it formal or informal?
A. It leans informal. You'd use it with friends or family. In a very formal business meeting, you might opt for different phrasing. But in most everyday situations, it's perfectly fine.
Notas de uso
This phrase is highly idiomatic and leans informal. While understood in many contexts, avoid it in very formal writing or speeches. The key is the verb `dar` paired with `trabalho`; changing the verb often results in an unnatural or incorrect phrase.
Use it for tech!
Whenever your phone or computer acts up, say 'Este celular dá trabalho'.
Ejemplos
12Esse projeto novo dá muito trabalho, não sei se termino a tempo!
This new project is a lot of work, I don't know if I'll finish on time!
Expresses the significant effort and time pressure involved in the project.
Adoro meu cachorro, mas ele dá muito trabalho com essa mania de roer tudo.
I love my dog, but he's a lot of trouble with this habit of chewing everything.
Highlights the nuisance and extra effort caused by the dog's behavior.
Fazer essa receita francesa dá muito trabalho, mas o resultado vale a pena.
Making this French recipe is a lot of work, but the result is worth it.
Emphasizes the complexity and time investment required for the recipe.
Renovando a casa é um processo que dá muito trabalho. Cada detalhe conta! #DIY #Reforma
Renovating the house is a process that is a lot of work. Every detail counts! #DIY #Renovation
Used to describe the extensive effort and meticulousness of home renovation.
Uau, esse projeto de scrapbooking dá muito trabalho! Adorei o resultado final.
Wow, this scrapbooking project is a lot of work! I loved the final result.
Acknowledges the high level of effort required for the craft shown.
Gerenciar aquele projeto de software foi desafiador e deu muito trabalho, mas entregamos com sucesso.
Managing that software project was challenging and was a lot of work, but we delivered successfully.
Used professionally to convey the significant effort and challenges overcome during a project.
A configuração inicial do servidor dá muito trabalho, mas depois a manutenção é mais simples.
The initial server setup is a lot of work, but afterwards maintenance is simpler.
Highlights the demanding nature of the initial setup phase.
✗ Esse carro velho faz muito trabalho. → ✓ Esse carro velho dá muito trabalho.
✗ This old car does a lot of work. → ✓ This old car is a lot of trouble.
The verb 'fazer' (to do/make) is incorrect here; 'dar' is the correct verb for 'to give' in this idiomatic expression.
✗ Dá trabalho muito para arrumar. → ✓ Dá muito trabalho para arrumar.
✗ Gives work much to fix. → ✓ It's a lot of work to fix.
The adverb `muito` should precede the noun phrase `trabalho` in this context.
Tentar acordar meu filho às 7 da manhã dá muito trabalho, ele vira uma múmia!
Trying to wake up my son at 7 AM is a lot of trouble, he turns into a mummy!
Uses hyperbole for comedic effect to describe the difficulty of waking someone up.
A papelada para o visto deu muito trabalho, quase desisti.
The paperwork for the visa was a lot of trouble, I almost gave up.
Conveys the emotional toll and immense difficulty of completing the visa application.
Meu gato persa dá muito trabalho com a escovação diária do pelo.
My Persian cat is a lot of trouble with the daily fur brushing.
Specifically points out the demanding grooming routine required for the Persian cat.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the sentence.
Cuidar de um jardim ________ muito trabalho.
The correct collocation is 'dar trabalho'.
🎉 Puntuación: /1
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
1 ejerciciosCuidar de um jardim ________ muito trabalho.
The correct collocation is 'dar trabalho'.
🎉 Puntuación: /1
Tutoriales en video
Encuentra tutoriales en video sobre esta expresión en YouTube.
Preguntas frecuentes
1 preguntasYes, it's very common for children or difficult colleagues.
Frases relacionadas
dar dor de cabeça
similarto be a headache
dar um trabalhão
specialized formto be a huge amount of work
