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A1 adjective #2,500 가장 일반적인 9분 분량

pesado

At the A1 level, 'pesado' is used in its most literal sense: physical weight. You learn it to describe objects that are hard to lift. It is one of the first adjectives you learn alongside its opposite, 'leve' (light). You will use it to talk about suitcases, boxes, or furniture. The main challenge here is remembering that it changes to 'pesada' for feminine nouns like 'cadeira' (chair) or 'mochila' (backpack). You will also see it in simple sentences about food, like saying a cake is 'pesado'.
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'pesado' in more varied daily contexts. You might use it to describe the weather, such as 'nuvens pesadas' (heavy clouds), or to talk about physical labor ('trabalho pesado'). You also start to use it to describe how you feel after eating a large meal. At this stage, you should be comfortable using the plural forms 'pesados' and 'pesadas' and using adverbs like 'muito' or 'demasiado' (too) to modify the adjective.
By B1, you move into the metaphorical uses of 'pesado'. You can describe a 'clima pesado' (heavy atmosphere) in a social situation or a 'sono pesado' (heavy sleep). You start to understand that 'pesado' can describe intensity, such as 'trânsito pesado' (heavy traffic). You also begin to recognize the word in media, such as news reports about 'chuvas pesadas'. Your ability to use 'pesado' to describe abstract concepts like a 'responsabilidade pesada' (heavy responsibility) develops here.
At the B2 level, you understand the nuances of 'pesado' in slang and social commentary. You can identify when a joke or a comment is 'pesado' (offensive or too dark). You use the word to describe complex themes in movies or books ('uma temática pesada'). You are also familiar with fixed expressions and collocations, such as 'indústria pesada' or 'peso pesado'. You can use the superlative 'pesadíssimo' to add emphasis in your arguments or descriptions.
At the C1 level, you use 'pesado' with precision in formal and academic contexts. You might discuss 'penas pesadas' (heavy sentences) in a legal debate or 'investimentos pesados' (heavy investments) in an economic analysis. You understand the stylistic choice of placing the adjective before the noun for emphasis. You can also use 'pesado' to describe subtle textures in literature or art, and you are fully aware of the regional differences in how the word is used as slang between Brazil and Portugal.
At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over the word's connotations. You can use 'pesado' ironically or within complex metaphors. You understand its etymological roots and how it relates to other words in the Romance family. You can navigate the most subtle social situations where 'pesado' might be used to describe a person's aura or the gravity of a historical event. Your usage is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker, utilizing the word's full range of emotional and physical meanings.
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pesado 30초 만에

  • Pesado primarily means 'heavy' in a physical sense, describing objects that are difficult to lift due to their mass.
  • It is frequently used metaphorically to describe a tense atmosphere, serious news, or a difficult emotional state.
  • In the context of food, it refers to dishes that are rich, greasy, or otherwise hard for the stomach to digest.
  • Grammatically, it must agree in gender (pesado/pesada) and number (pesados/pesadas) with the noun it modifies.

The Portuguese word pesado is a versatile adjective that primarily denotes physical weight, but its semantic range extends into emotional, social, and sensory domains. At its most basic level, it is the direct equivalent of the English word 'heavy'. If you try to lift a box filled with lead, you would exclaim, 'Isto é muito pesado!' However, the beauty of the word lies in its metaphorical applications. In the context of food, pesado describes dishes that are high in fat or difficult to digest, such as a traditional feijoada or a dense cake. When discussing atmosphere or mood, a 'clima pesado' suggests tension, sadness, or a palpable sense of unease in a room. It can also describe a person's character or behavior; someone who is 'pesado' might be seen as difficult, overly serious, or even rude in certain slang contexts. In music, particularly rock or metal, 'som pesado' refers to a heavy, distorted, or intense sound. The word also carries weight in legal and moral contexts, where a 'pena pesada' refers to a severe punishment or sentence. Understanding pesado requires recognizing whether the speaker is referring to the physical mass of an object or the metaphorical 'weight' of a situation, a meal, or a person's words.

Physical Mass
Refers to objects that have a high weight and are difficult to move or lift.
Digestive Intensity
Used for food that feels 'heavy' in the stomach or is high in calories and fats.
Emotional Atmosphere
Describes a situation or environment filled with tension, grief, or conflict.

Esta mala de viagem está muito pesada; acho que excedi o limite de peso do aeroporto.

O ambiente na reunião ficou pesado depois da discussão sobre os cortes no orçamento.

Não devias comer essa lasanha agora; é uma comida muito pesada para a noite.

O guitarrista criou um riff muito pesado que definiu o estilo da banda de metal.

Ele recebeu uma crítica pesada do seu supervisor por causa do erro no relatório.

Furthermore, the word is used in sports to describe categories, such as 'peso pesado' (heavyweight) in boxing or MMA. In the realm of labor, 'trabalho pesado' refers to manual labor that requires significant physical exertion, like construction or farming. In weather, 'nuvens pesadas' indicates clouds that are dark and likely to bring heavy rain. The versatility of pesado makes it one of the most essential adjectives for a learner to master, as it transitions seamlessly from the concrete to the abstract.

Using pesado correctly involves understanding its grammatical placement and its agreement with nouns. As an adjective, it typically follows the noun it describes, which is the standard position for adjectives in Portuguese. For example, 'um livro pesado' (a heavy book). However, placing it before the noun can sometimes add a stylistic or emotional emphasis, though this is less common with this specific word. The most crucial rule is gender and number agreement. If you are talking about a table (a mesa), which is feminine, you must use 'pesada'. If you are talking about several trucks (os camiões/caminhões), you must use 'pesados'.

Gender Agreement
Masculine: pesado; Feminine: pesada.
Number Agreement
Singular: pesado/pesada; Plural: pesados/pesadas.
Degree of Intensity
Use 'muito' (very) or 'bastante' (quite) to modify the intensity: 'muito pesado'.

As caixas que o entregador trouxe são extremamente pesadas.

When using pesado to describe food, it is often paired with the verb 'ser' (to be) for inherent qualities or 'estar' (to be) for a temporary state or specific experience. 'Esta feijoada é pesada' implies that feijoada, by nature, is a heavy dish. 'O jantar de ontem estava pesado' suggests that specific meal felt heavy at that time. In metaphorical contexts, such as describing a conversation, 'A conversa ficou pesada' uses the verb 'ficar' (to become/stay) to indicate a change in the emotional state of the interaction.

In technical or professional settings, pesado is used in terms like 'indústria pesada' (heavy industry) or 'veículos pesados' (heavy vehicles). In these cases, it is a fixed part of the terminology. For students of Portuguese, practicing the transition from physical descriptions ('Esta mochila está pesada') to abstract ones ('Este clima está pesado') is a key step toward fluency. It is also important to note the superlative form: 'pesadíssimo' (extremely heavy), which is used for emphasis in both formal and informal speech.

You will encounter the word pesado in a wide variety of daily life scenarios. In a domestic setting, you might hear it while moving furniture or carrying groceries. At the gym, people often discuss 'pesos pesados' or complain that a particular exercise is 'muito pesado'. In the kitchen, a mother might warn her children not to eat something 'pesado' right before bed. On the news, journalists might report on 'chuvas pesadas' (heavy rains) causing floods or 'trânsito pesado' (heavy traffic) during rush hour. In the workplace, a colleague might describe a project as 'pesado' if it involves a lot of data, stress, or long hours.

At the Gym
'Vou levantar um peso mais pesado hoje.'
In Traffic
'O trânsito na ponte está muito pesado esta manhã.'
In Social Circles
'Aquela piada foi um pouco pesada, não achas?'

Cuidado com as costas! Esse móvel é muito pesado.

In the arts and entertainment world, pesado is a common descriptor for genres and themes. A movie with a 'temática pesada' deals with difficult or depressing subjects like war, trauma, or loss. In the music scene, fans of rock and metal use 'pesado' as a badge of honor for music that is powerful and intense. You will also hear it in slang, especially among younger generations in Brazil, where 'Que pesado!' can be an exclamation of shock or awe in response to a surprising or intense story. In Portugal, it is more commonly used in its literal or traditional metaphorical senses.

Finally, in the legal system, 'mão pesada' (heavy hand) is an idiom used to describe a judge who gives very strict sentences. Whether you are reading a newspaper, watching a soap opera (telenovela), or chatting with friends at a bar, pesado will appear frequently, acting as a linguistic anchor for anything that carries significant mass, intensity, or gravity.

One of the most common mistakes learners make with pesado is failing to adjust for gender and number. Because English uses the invariable 'heavy', students often forget to say 'as malas são pesadas' and instead say 'as malas são pesado'. Another frequent error is confusing pesado with difícil (difficult). While a 'trabalho pesado' is difficult because it is physically demanding, a 'problema difícil' is difficult because it is complex. Using pesado for a math problem would sound strange unless you were referring to the literal weight of the textbook.

Agreement Errors
Incorrect: 'A comida é pesado.' Correct: 'A comida é pesada.'
Confusing with 'Duro'
'Duro' means hard/solid. Use 'pesado' for weight, not texture.
Overusing in Slang
Be careful using 'pesado' as slang in formal settings; it can sound too casual.

Errado: Eu tenho um trabalho pesado de matemática. (Use 'difícil' instead).

Another nuance is the difference between 'pesado' and 'grave'. While both can mean 'serious', 'grave' is used for illnesses, crimes, or mistakes ('um erro grave'), whereas 'pesado' is used for the emotional atmosphere or the physical consequence ('uma herança pesada'). Learners also sometimes struggle with the preposition that follows the verb when pesado is used. For example, 'pesado para' (heavy for) is the standard construction: 'Isto é muito pesado para mim'.

Lastly, avoid using pesado to mean 'busy'. If your day is full of meetings, say 'um dia cheio' or 'um dia ocupado', not 'um dia pesado', unless the day was emotionally draining or physically exhausting. Understanding these subtle distinctions will help you sound more like a native speaker and avoid confusing your listeners.

To truly master pesado, it is helpful to understand its synonyms and related terms. The most direct synonym for physical weight is gravoso, though this is much more formal and often used in legal or economic contexts to mean 'burdensome'. Another close relative is denso (dense), which describes something with a lot of mass in a small space, often used for liquids, forests, or even literature. For food, you might use calórico (caloric) or gorduroso (greasy) to be more specific about why the meal feels 'pesado'.

Grave
Used for serious situations, errors, or illnesses.
Forte
Can mean 'strong', but in the context of smells or flavors, it overlaps with 'pesado'.
Árduo
A more sophisticated way to say 'trabalho pesado' (arduous task).

O trabalho árduo no campo exige muita resistência física.

In terms of atmosphere, tenso (tense) is a frequent alternative to 'pesado'. If a room feels 'pesado', it is likely 'tenso' as well. For music or sound, grave refers to low-frequency bass sounds, which contribute to a 'som pesado'. When describing a person who is 'pesado' in the sense of being boring or difficult, you might use maçador (Portugal) or chato (Brazil). Understanding these synonyms allows you to choose the most precise word for the context.

Finally, consider the word maciço (massive/solid). While pesado refers to the weight, maciço refers to the solidity and volume. A 'móvel de madeira maciça' (solid wood furniture) will inevitably be 'pesado'. By building a web of these related words, you can describe the world with much greater nuance and accuracy.

How Formal Is It?

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알아야 할 문법

수준별 예문

1

O meu livro é muito pesado.

My book is very heavy.

Masculine singular agreement.

2

Esta mala está pesada.

This suitcase is heavy.

Feminine singular agreement with 'mala'.

3

Os sacos são pesados.

The bags are heavy.

Masculine plural agreement.

4

A mesa é pesada?

Is the table heavy?

Question form with feminine agreement.

5

Eu não gosto de comida pesada.

I don't like heavy food.

Adjective modifying 'comida'.

6

O elefante é um animal pesado.

The elephant is a heavy animal.

Literal physical weight.

7

Isto é demasiado pesado para mim.

This is too heavy for me.

Use of 'demasiado' as a modifier.

8

Tens um computador pesado.

You have a heavy computer.

Simple adjective-noun relationship.

1

Hoje o trabalho foi muito pesado.

Today the work was very heavy/hard.

Refers to physical labor.

2

As nuvens estão pesadas; vai chover.

The clouds are heavy; it's going to rain.

Metaphorical use for weather.

3

Ele tem um sono muito pesado.

He is a very heavy sleeper.

Idiomatic expression 'sono pesado'.

4

Não comas nada pesado antes de dormir.

Don't eat anything heavy before sleeping.

Advice context.

5

Estes sapatos são pesados para correr.

These shoes are heavy for running.

Comparison context.

6

O trânsito está pesado hoje.

The traffic is heavy today.

Common collocation 'trânsito pesado'.

7

Ela carrega uma mochila pesada todos os dias.

She carries a heavy backpack every day.

Routine context.

8

O ferro é um metal pesado.

Iron is a heavy metal.

Scientific/literal context.

1

O ambiente na sala estava muito pesado.

The atmosphere in the room was very heavy/tense.

Metaphorical use for mood.

2

Foi uma conversa pesada sobre o futuro.

It was a heavy conversation about the future.

Refers to emotional depth/seriousness.

3

Ele sentiu um peso pesado no coração.

He felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Figurative use for sadness.

4

A indústria pesada é importante para a economia.

Heavy industry is important for the economy.

Technical term 'indústria pesada'.

5

O ar estava pesado por causa da humidade.

The air was heavy because of the humidity.

Sensory description.

6

Recebemos notícias pesadas esta manhã.

We received heavy/difficult news this morning.

Refers to bad news.

7

Ela tem uma responsabilidade pesada na empresa.

She has a heavy responsibility at the company.

Abstract weight.

8

O som do baixo estava muito pesado.

The bass sound was very heavy.

Musical context.

1

Aquela piada foi um bocado pesada.

That joke was a bit heavy/offensive.

Slang/Social context.

2

O filme aborda uma temática bastante pesada.

The movie deals with a rather heavy theme.

Used for serious artistic content.

3

O juiz aplicou uma pena pesada ao réu.

The judge gave a heavy sentence to the defendant.

Legal context.

4

Houve um investimento pesado em tecnologia.

There was a heavy investment in technology.

Economic context meaning 'large amount'.

5

O clima ficou pesado depois do comentário dele.

The mood got heavy after his comment.

Dynamic change in atmosphere.

6

Ele é um lutador de peso pesado.

He is a heavyweight fighter.

Sports terminology.

7

A herança cultural deste país é pesada.

The cultural heritage of this country is heavy/significant.

Abstract significance.

8

Não aguento este clima pesado no escritório.

I can't stand this heavy atmosphere in the office.

Expressing personal feeling about mood.

1

A prosa do autor é densa e pesada.

The author's prose is dense and heavy.

Literary criticism.

2

O governo enfrenta uma pesada derrota nas urnas.

The government faces a heavy defeat at the polls.

Political context.

3

A estrutura maciça suporta o teto pesado.

The massive structure supports the heavy ceiling.

Technical/Architectural.

4

O uso de cores pesadas dá um ar sombrio ao quadro.

The use of heavy colors gives a dark feel to the painting.

Artistic analysis.

5

A culpa pesada impedia-o de seguir em frente.

The heavy guilt prevented him from moving on.

Psychological depth.

6

As sanções pesadas afetaram a economia nacional.

The heavy sanctions affected the national economy.

International relations.

7

Ele proferiu palavras pesadas durante a discussão.

He uttered heavy/harsh words during the argument.

Verbal intensity.

8

A maquinaria pesada requer manutenção constante.

Heavy machinery requires constant maintenance.

Industrial context.

1

A gravidade da situação impunha um silêncio pesado.

The gravity of the situation imposed a heavy silence.

High-level literary description.

2

O legado pesado da ditadura ainda se faz sentir.

The heavy legacy of the dictatorship is still felt.

Socio-political analysis.

3

Sua ironia pesada nem sempre era compreendida.

His heavy irony was not always understood.

Nuanced personality trait.

4

O fardo pesado da coroa exauria o monarca.

The heavy burden of the crown exhausted the monarch.

Metaphorical/Poetic.

5

Uma névoa pesada e impenetrável cobria o vale.

A heavy and impenetrable mist covered the valley.

Descriptive mastery.

6

A crítica teceu comentários pesados sobre a obra.

The critic wove heavy/harsh comments about the work.

Sophisticated vocabulary.

7

O arcaísmo pesado tornava o texto quase ilegível.

The heavy archaism made the text almost illegible.

Linguistic analysis.

8

Ele carregava o estigma pesado de um erro passado.

He carried the heavy stigma of a past mistake.

Existential theme.

자주 쓰는 조합

trabalho pesado
trânsito pesado
comida pesada
clima pesado
sono pesado
indústria pesada
pena pesada
chuva pesada
investimento pesado
peso pesado

자주 쓰는 구문

Que pesado!

Mão pesada

Peso pesado

Dormir um sono pesado

Ambiente pesado

Palavras pesadas

Herança pesada

Maquinaria pesada

Artilharia pesada

Veículos pesados

자주 혼동되는 단어

pesado vs difícil (difficult - used for complexity)

pesado vs duro (hard - used for texture)

pesado vs grave (serious - used for mistakes/illness)

관용어 및 표현

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혼동하기 쉬운

pesado vs

pesado vs

pesado vs

pesado vs

pesado vs

문장 패턴

사용법

nuance

'Pesado' can be positive in music (intense) but is usually negative in food (indigestible).

caution

Be careful when describing people; 'pesado' is not a polite way to say someone is overweight.

자주 하는 실수
  • Using 'pesado' for 'difficult' (math problems).
  • Forgetting to use 'pesada' for feminine nouns.
  • Using 'pesado' to describe a person's weight in a formal setting.
  • Confusing 'pesado' with 'passado' (past).
  • Overusing the slang meaning in Portugal (where it's less common).

팁

Agreement

Always check the noun's gender before using 'pesado' or 'pesada'.

Antonym

Learn 'leve' at the same time to double your vocabulary efficiency.

Social Cues

Use 'Que pesado!' when someone tells a shocking story to sound like a native.

Food

Use 'pesada' to describe traditional dishes like feijoada or cozido.

Industry

Use 'indústria pesada' when discussing manufacturing or economics.

Genres

Use 'som pesado' to describe rock, metal, or bass-heavy music.

Clouds

Describe dark, rain-filled clouds as 'nuvens pesadas'.

Law

Use 'pena pesada' to describe a severe legal sentence.

Lifting

Always warn others by saying 'Cuidado, é pesado!' when handing them something.

Sleep

Describe a deep sleeper as having 'sono pesado'.

암기하기

기억법

PESADO: Physical Effort Surely Always Delivers Obstacles (because it's heavy!).

어원

From the Latin 'pensare', meaning 'to weigh' or 'to ponder'.

문화적 맥락

Often used in slang to mean 'cool' or 'intense'.

Calling a joke 'pesada' is a common way to set social boundaries.

More emphasis on literal weight and formal gravity.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

대화 시작하기

"Achaste o filme muito pesado?"

"Esta comida é muito pesada para ti?"

"O trânsito estava pesado hoje?"

"Consegues carregar esta caixa ou é muito pesada?"

"O que achas de música pesada?"

일기 주제

Descreve um dia em que tiveste um trabalho muito pesado.

Escreve sobre uma conversa pesada que tiveste recentemente.

Qual é a comida mais pesada que já provaste?

Como lidas com um clima pesado no trabalho?

Descreve um objeto pesado que tens em casa.

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

Usually no. Use 'difícil'. You only use 'pesado' if the exam was emotionally exhausting.

The opposite is 'leve', which means light.

It can describe a person's personality (difficult/boring) or their sleep, but rarely their physical weight politely.

You say 'peso pesado'.

In Brazilian slang, yes, it can mean something is intense or impressive.

Yes, it becomes 'pesados' (masculine) or 'pesadas' (feminine).

You say 'chuva pesada' or 'chuva forte'.

It's an idiom for a dangerous or very tough situation.

Yes, that is the standard way to say someone is a heavy sleeper.

Yes, it is the absolute superlative form of 'pesado'.

셀프 테스트 178 질문

/ 178 correct

Perfect score!

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