suonare
Overview
The Italian verb 'suonare' is a versatile and commonly used verb that primarily means 'to play' when referring to musical instruments or 'to ring' when referring to bells or alarms. It's a regular -are verb, making its conjugations fairly straightforward once you understand the patterns.
Core Meanings:
- 1To play (a musical instrument): This is perhaps its most frequent usage. When you 'suonare il pianoforte,' you are playing the piano. When you 'suonare la chitarra,' you are playing the guitar.
- Example: 'Mia sorella suona il violino molto bene.' (My sister plays the violin very well.)
- Example: 'Vorrei imparare a suonare la tromba.' (I would like to learn to play the trumpet.)
- 1To ring (of bells, alarms, phones): 'Suonare' is also used to describe the sound produced by bells, alarms, or even a telephone.
- Example: 'La campana suona a mezzogiorno.' (The bell rings at noon.)
- Example: 'Il telefono ha suonato per ore.' (The phone rang for hours.)
- Example: 'La sveglia suona alle sette.' (The alarm rings at seven.)
- 1To sound (of a siren, horn, whistle): Similar to 'to ring,' it can describe the sound of other warning devices.
- Example: 'La sirena suona quando c'è un'emergenza.' (The siren sounds when there's an emergency.)
- 1To knock/ring (at a door/doorbell): While 'bussare' is more common for knocking, 'suonare' can be used for ringing a doorbell.
- Example: 'Qualcuno sta suonando alla porta.' (Someone is ringing at the door.)
- 1To sound/seem (figurative): Less common, but 'suonare' can be used figuratively to mean 'to sound' or 'to seem' in the sense of how something is perceived.
- Example: 'Le sue parole suonano strane.' (His words sound strange.)
- Example: 'Questa storia mi suona familiare.' (This story sounds familiar to me.)
Conjugation (Indicative Present):
- io suono (I play/ring)
- tu suoni (You play/ring)
- lui/lei suona (He/She plays/rings)
- noi suoniamo (We play/ring)
- voi suonate (You all play/ring)
- loro suonano (They play/ring)
Common Expressions/Phrases:
- 'Suonare uno strumento' - To play an instrument
- 'Suonare la chitarra/il pianoforte/il violino' - To play the guitar/piano/violin
- 'Suonare la campana' - To ring the bell
- 'Suonare il clacson' - To honk the horn
- 'Suonare il campanello' - To ring the doorbell
Transitive vs. Intransitive:
'Suonare' can be both transitive and intransitive.
- Transitive: When it takes a direct object (e.g., 'suonare il pianoforte'). In compound tenses, it uses 'avere' (to have) as the auxiliary verb.
- Example (Passato Prossimo): 'Ho suonato la chitarra per un'ora.' (I played the guitar for an hour.)
- Intransitive: When it does not take a direct object (e.g., 'La campana suona'). In compound tenses, it can use 'essere' (to be) as the auxiliary verb, especially when referring to the sound itself rather than the action of playing.
- Example (Passato Prossimo): 'La campana è suonata.' (The bell rang.) However, 'ha suonato' is also common and often interchangeable in many contexts, making it one of those verbs where auxiliary choice can sometimes be flexible or context-dependent for intransitive uses.
Understanding the context is key to correctly interpreting and using 'suonare.' Whether it's the beautiful melody of an instrument or the insistent ring of a doorbell, 'suonare' captures a wide range of auditory actions in Italian.
예시
Mi piace suonare il pianoforte.
Music/HobbiesI like to play the piano.
Vuoi suonare una canzone insieme?
Music/SocialDo you want to play a song together?
La campana suona a mezzogiorno.
Everyday/TimeThe bell rings at noon.
Il telefono ha iniziato a suonare.
Everyday/TechnologyThe phone started ringing.
Suonare il clacson è vietato qui.
Driving/RegulationsHonking the horn is forbidden here.
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문법 패턴
사용법
'Suonare' is a versatile Italian verb that primarily means 'to play' an instrument. It's a regular -are verb, so its conjugations follow standard patterns. For example, 'io suono' (I play), 'tu suoni' (you play), 'lui/lei suona' (he/she plays). Beyond instruments, 'suonare' can also be used for bells, meaning 'to ring' (e.g., 'La campana suona' - The bell rings) or for alarms ('La sveglia suona' - The alarm rings). It can also colloquially mean 'to hit' or 'to beat someone up' in an informal context, though this usage is less common and depends heavily on context and tone. When referring to playing a specific piece of music, you would use 'suonare' followed by the name of the piece (e.g., 'suonare una canzone' - to play a song). It's important to differentiate 'suonare' from 'giocare,' which means 'to play' in the sense of games or sports.
One common mistake is confusing 'suonare' (to play an instrument, to ring a bell, to sound) with 'giocare' (to play a game, to play sports). While both translate to 'to play' in English, their usage in Italian is distinct. 'Suonare' is specifically for producing sound with an instrument or bell, or for a general sound being produced (e.g., 'the alarm is sounding'). 'Giocare' is for recreational activities, games, or sports. Another mistake is incorrect conjugation, especially with irregular forms or when using it with auxiliary verbs. Remember that 'suonare' typically uses 'avere' (to have) as its auxiliary verb in compound tenses when it's transitive (e.g., 'ho suonato la chitarra' - I played the guitar), but can use 'essere' (to be) when it's intransitive and refers to the sound itself (e.g., 'la campana è suonata' - the bell rang/sounded).
팁
Usage with instruments
'Suonare' is commonly used to describe playing a musical instrument. For example, 'suonare la chitarra' (to play the guitar), 'suonare il pianoforte' (to play the piano).
Transitive vs. Intransitive
'Suonare' can be both transitive (taking a direct object, like an instrument) and intransitive (meaning 'to ring' or 'to sound'). When intransitive, it often uses 'essere' as the auxiliary verb in compound tenses, e.g., 'La campana è suonata' (The bell rang).
Other meanings
Besides playing an instrument or ringing, 'suonare' can also mean 'to beat' (e.g., 'suonare le campane' - to ring the bells), or even colloquially 'to give a beating' (e.g., 'gli ha suonato di santa ragione' - he gave him a good beating).
어원
From Vulgar Latin *sonāre, from Latin sonāre, present active infinitive of sonō, from Proto-Italic *swonāō, from Proto-Indo-European *swenh₂- ('to sound, to make noise'). Cognate with French sonner, Spanish sonar, Portuguese soar, Romanian suna. The meaning evolved from 'to make a sound' to specifically 'to play a musical instrument' or 'to ring a bell' in Italian. The causative sense of 'to play (music)' is an extension of the basic 'to sound' meaning, implying causing an instrument to produce sound. The word has been in continuous use in Italian since the earliest documented forms of the language, with its core meaning largely preserved while expanding to include more specific musical contexts. Over time, 'suonare' has become the primary verb for musical performance in Italian, encompassing a wide range of instruments and musical styles. Its roots in the Latin 'sonāre' highlight a direct lineage to the ancient understanding of sound production and its importance in communication and art.
문화적 맥락
In Italy, 'suonare' carries a rich cultural weight, deeply intertwined with the nation's profound appreciation for music. Italy is the birthplace of opera, and musical traditions are celebrated in everyday life, from folk festivals to classical concerts. 'Suonare' can evoke images of a street musician playing an accordion in a piazza, a gondolier singing a traditional Venetian tune, or a family gathered around a piano during holidays. The act of playing an instrument is often seen as a communal activity, fostering connection and expressing emotion. Furthermore, Italy's regional diversity is reflected in its music; 'suonare' might refer to playing a mandolin in the south, a bagpipe (zampogna) in central Italy, or a violin in a classical orchestra setting. It's not just about the technical skill, but also about the passion and soul poured into the performance, a core aspect of Italian artistic expression.
암기 팁
Think of a 'sonar' device. When you 'suonare' (play) an instrument, you send out sounds, much like a sonar sends out pings.
자주 묻는 질문
4 질문'Suonare' primarily means 'to play' an instrument, 'to ring' a bell, or 'to sound' an alarm. It can also refer to something 'sounding a certain way' or 'striking' someone or something.
In the present tense, 'suonare' is conjugated as follows: 'io suono' (I play/ring), 'tu suoni' (you play/ring), 'lui/lei suona' (he/she plays/rings), 'noi suoniamo' (we play/ring), 'voi suonate' (you all play/ring), 'loro suonano' (they play/ring).
Yes, 'suonare' can be used reflexively as 'suonarsi,' often meaning 'to be played' or 'to be rung,' or in a more colloquial sense, 'to hit oneself' or 'to knock oneself.' For example, 'La sveglia si suona alle sette' (The alarm rings itself at seven).
When referring to playing an instrument, 'suonare' is generally used transitively, meaning it directly takes the instrument as its object without a preposition. For example, 'suonare la chitarra' (to play the guitar), 'suonare il pianoforte' (to play the piano). However, in some idiomatic expressions or specific contexts, other prepositions might appear, but for the act of playing an instrument, direct object is most common.
셀프 테스트
Il musicista _______ il violino ogni giorno.
Noi _______ la chitarra nel gruppo.
Voi _______ il pianoforte molto bene.
점수: /3
Usage with instruments
'Suonare' is commonly used to describe playing a musical instrument. For example, 'suonare la chitarra' (to play the guitar), 'suonare il pianoforte' (to play the piano).
Transitive vs. Intransitive
'Suonare' can be both transitive (taking a direct object, like an instrument) and intransitive (meaning 'to ring' or 'to sound'). When intransitive, it often uses 'essere' as the auxiliary verb in compound tenses, e.g., 'La campana è suonata' (The bell rang).
Other meanings
Besides playing an instrument or ringing, 'suonare' can also mean 'to beat' (e.g., 'suonare le campane' - to ring the bells), or even colloquially 'to give a beating' (e.g., 'gli ha suonato di santa ragione' - he gave him a good beating).
예시
5 / 5Mi piace suonare il pianoforte.
I like to play the piano.
Vuoi suonare una canzone insieme?
Do you want to play a song together?
La campana suona a mezzogiorno.
The bell rings at noon.
Il telefono ha iniziato a suonare.
The phone started ringing.
Suonare il clacson è vietato qui.
Honking the horn is forbidden here.
관련 콘텐츠
music 관련 단어
canzone
A1A musical composition with lyrics
canto
B1A vocal melody or the act of singing.
concerto
B1A musical performance.
cantare
A1to sing
cinema
A2Movie theater
opera
A2A dramatic work set to music
ballare
B1To move rhythmically to music
voce
A1voice
ritmo
B2A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement.
musica
A1music