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B1 verb 중립 #4,500 가장 일반적인 3분 분량

complacer

komplaˈθeɾ
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Overview

The Spanish word 'complacer' means 'to please' or 'to gratify someone.' It is a regular -er verb, which means its conjugations follow a predictable pattern. Understanding 'complacer' goes beyond just its dictionary definition; it involves grasping its nuances in usage, common expressions, and cultural context.

* nosotros/nosotras complacemos (we please)

  • vosotros/vosotras complacéis (you all please [informal, Spain])
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes complacen (they/you all please [formal])

Notice the 'zc' in the 'yo' form, which is common in verbs ending in -cer or -cir when the 'c' is preceded by a vowel. This change ensures the 'c' maintains a soft 'th' sound (in Castilian Spanish) or 's' sound (in Latin American Spanish) before an 'o' or 'a'.

* ellos/ellas/ustedes complacían

Subjunctive Mood: The subjunctive is often used to express wishes, emotions, doubts, or desires. For 'complacer,' it's common when discussing what one hopes will please someone.

**Usage and Nuances:**

  • 'Complacer' often implies a desire to meet someone's expectations or desires, sometimes with a connotation of going out of one's way.
  • It can be used reflexively as 'complacerse' (to be pleased, to take pleasure in).

**Examples:**

  • 'Quiero complacer a mis padres.' (I want to please my parents.)
  • 'Me complace anunciar que...' (It pleases me to announce that... / I am pleased to announce that...)
  • 'Ella siempre trata de complacer a todos.' (She always tries to please everyone.)
  • 'Se complacen en su nuevo hogar.' (They take pleasure in their new home.)
  • 'Fue un placer complacerle.' (It was a pleasure to please you.)

* **Placer (noun):** pleasure

  • Agradar: to please (often implies a more passive pleasing, or something being agreeable)

* **Satisfacer:** to satisfy

In summary, 'complacer' is a versatile verb essential for expressing the act of pleasing or gratifying in Spanish. Its regular conjugations, with the characteristic 'zc' change in certain forms, make it relatively straightforward to master with practice.

예시

1

Quiero complacer a mis padres.

Family

I want to please my parents.

2

Ella siempre busca complacer a los demás.

Social interaction

She always tries to please others.

3

¿Hay algo en lo que pueda complacerte?

Offering help

Is there anything I can do to please you?

4

Su actuación logró complacer al público.

Entertainment

Their performance managed to please the audience.

5

No puedes complacer a todo el mundo.

General wisdom

You can't please everyone.

자주 쓰는 조합

complacer a alguien
complacer los deseos
complacerse en
difícil de complacer

자주 혼동되는 단어

complacer 대 contemplar

Both verbs start with 'contempla-' and share a similar rhythm, but 'contemplar' means 'to contemplate' or 'to consider,' while 'complacer' means 'to please.' They are often confused due to their phonological similarity, especially in rapid speech.

complacer 대 complacerse

While 'complacer' means 'to please someone,' 'complacerse' is the reflexive form, meaning 'to take pleasure in something' or 'to indulge oneself.' The difference lies in the direct object and the reflexive pronoun, which can alter the meaning significantly.

문법 패턴

Complacer a alguien (To please someone): This is the most common and direct usage, indicating that the action of pleasing is directed towards a person or entity. Example: 'Quiero complacer a mis padres.' (I want to please my parents.) Complacerse en algo (To take pleasure in something): This reflexive construction emphasizes the subject finding pleasure or satisfaction in an action or situation. Example: 'Se complace en ayudar a los demás.' (He takes pleasure in helping others.) Complacerse con algo (To be pleased with something): Similar to the previous pattern, but often used when the source of pleasure is an object or an outcome. Example: 'Me complazco con los resultados.' (I am pleased with the results.)

사용법

사용 참고사항

'Complacer' is a transitive verb, meaning it generally takes a direct object, which is the person or entity being pleased. For example, 'Quiero complacer a mis padres' (I want to please my parents). When the object is a person, it's often preceded by the personal 'a'. It can also be used reflexively, as in 'complacerse en' (to take pleasure in something), e.g., 'Se complace en ayudar a los demás' (He takes pleasure in helping others). Another common usage is with an indirect object pronoun to indicate who is being pleased, such as 'Me complace informarle...' (It pleases me to inform you...). It's important to distinguish it from verbs like 'gustar' (to like), which describe a feeling experienced by the subject, whereas 'complacer' describes an action taken to evoke a positive feeling in someone else. The past participle 'complacido/a' is often used as an adjective to describe someone who is content or pleased, e.g., 'Estoy complacido con los resultados' (I am pleased with the results).

자주 하는 실수

1. Using 'complacer' with the wrong prepositions: 'Complacer a alguien' is correct (to please someone), not 'complacer con alguien'. 2. Confusing 'complacer' with 'satisfacer': While similar, 'satisfacer' often implies meeting a need or expectation, whereas 'complacer' emphasizes generating pleasure or gratification. For example, 'satisfacer una necesidad' (to satisfy a need) vs. 'complacer a un amigo' (to please a friend). 3. Incorrect conjugation: Ensure you're using the correct conjugation for the tense and subject. For instance, 'yo complazco' (I please) in the present tense, not 'yo complaco'. 4. Overuse in formal contexts: While versatile, sometimes simpler verbs like 'gustar' (to like/please) or phrases are more natural, especially in informal speech. 'Me gusta' (I like it) or 'Te agradó' (It pleased you) might be more common than 'Me complació'. 5. Misunderstanding reflexive use: 'Complacerse en algo' means 'to take pleasure in something'. It's not just a reflexive form of 'to please oneself' in the direct sense. For example, 'Se complace en ayudar a los demás' (He takes pleasure in helping others). 6. Assuming direct translation from English 'to please': 'To please' in English can sometimes mean 'to make happy' in a more general sense, but 'complacer' is specifically about gratifying or indulging someone's wishes or desires. 'Hacer feliz' is often more appropriate for 'to make happy'. 7. Incorrect object pronouns: When using 'complacer' with an object pronoun, it should be an indirect object pronoun (le, les) if referring to a person, as 'complacer' takes an indirect object for the person being pleased. For example, 'Le complació la noticia' (The news pleased him/her), not 'Lo complació la noticia'.

팁

💡

Formal vs. Informal

'Complacer' can be used in both formal and informal contexts, similar to 'to please' in English. The formality often comes from the surrounding sentence structure and vocabulary rather than the verb itself.

💡

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is confusing 'complacer' with 'gustar' (to like). While both involve positive feelings, 'complacer' focuses on the act of pleasing someone, while 'gustar' describes what someone likes. For example, 'Me complace ayudarte' (It pleases me to help you) vs. 'Me gusta el chocolate' (I like chocolate).

💡

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for 'complacer' include 'satisfacer' (to satisfy), 'agradar' (to please, to be agreeable), and 'contentar' (to make happy). Antonyms include 'disgustar' (to displease), 'molestar' (to bother), and 'enfadar' (to anger).

어원

From Old Spanish 'complazer', from Vulgar Latin *complacēre, from Latin 'complacēre' ('to be very pleasing', 'to please greatly', 'to gratify'), from 'com-' (intensive prefix) + 'placēre' ('to please'). Cognate with Portuguese 'aprazer', Italian 'piacere', French 'plaire', Catalan 'plànyer' (which has shifted meaning to 'to pity', 'to complain'). The intensive prefix 'com-' in Latin often served to strengthen the meaning of the verb, indicating a thorough or complete action of pleasing. Over time, the meaning in Spanish has remained consistent with the Latin root, referring to the act of gratifying or making someone happy. It is related to words like 'placer' (pleasure) and 'complaciente' (complacent, obliging) in Spanish.

문화적 맥락

In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'complacer' carries a significant social weight, often reflecting the importance placed on interpersonal relationships and harmony. The act of 'pleasing' someone can range from simple courtesies to deeper acts of service or sacrifice. For example, a child might be taught to 'complacer' their elders by obeying or showing respect, while a host might go to great lengths to 'complacer' their guests, ensuring their comfort and enjoyment. This verb is deeply embedded in expressions of hospitality, familial duty, and even romantic gestures. There can also be a nuance where 'complacer' can imply a desire to avoid conflict or to maintain social order, sometimes at the expense of one's own desires, highlighting a collectivist aspect of many Hispanic societies. It’s also often used in formal settings to express a willingness to fulfill requests or needs.

암기 팁

The word 'complacer' sounds like 'to comply with a request,' which often leads to pleasing someone. Imagine someone saying, 'I'll comply, sir, to please you.'

자주 묻는 질문

4 질문

In the present tense, 'complacer' conjugates as follows: 'yo complazco' (I please), 'tú complaces' (you please), 'él/ella/usted complace' (he/she/you formal pleases), 'nosotros/nosotras complacemos' (we please), 'vosotros/vosotras complacéis' (you all informal please), and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes complacen' (they/you all formal please). This verb has an irregular 'yo' form.

In the preterite tense, 'complacer' is a regular -er verb. The conjugations are: 'yo complací' (I pleased), 'tú complaciste' (you pleased), 'él/ella/usted complació' (he/she/you formal pleased), 'nosotros/nosotras complacimos' (we pleased), 'vosotros/vosotras complacisteis' (you all informal pleased), and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes complacieron' (they/you all formal pleased). For example, 'Ella complació a sus padres' means 'She pleased her parents'.

Yes, 'complacer' can be used reflexively as 'complacerse'. When used reflexively, it typically means 'to be pleased' or 'to take pleasure in something'. For instance, 'Me complazco en anunciar...' means 'I am pleased to announce...'. It emphasizes the feeling of satisfaction or delight experienced by the subject.

Both 'complacer' and 'agradar' can mean 'to please', but they often carry slightly different nuances. 'Complacer' often implies a more active effort to satisfy someone's wishes or desires, or to make someone happy. 'Agradar' generally means 'to be pleasing to' or 'to like', and it often describes something that is inherently enjoyable or agreeable to a person. For example, 'Me complace tu visita' (Your visit pleases me, implying satisfaction) vs. 'Me agrada tu visita' (Your visit is pleasing to me, implying enjoyment).

셀프 테스트

fill blank

Yo quiero _______ a mis padres.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
fill blank

Él siempre intenta _______ a su novia con regalos.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
fill blank

Para _______ al público, el artista cantó su canción más famosa.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

점수: /3

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