When you touch a rose, sometimes you might feel something sharp. That's an espina. It's like a small, pointy part on a plant. Fish can also have espinas, especially if you're eating them. So, an espina is something sharp and pointy you find on plants or fish. Be careful not to touch them!
When you're learning Spanish at the A2 level, you'll encounter words like espina. This word refers to a sharp, pointed part of a plant, like a rose, or on a fish. Think of it like a thorn or a spine. You might hear it when talking about nature or even when describing something that causes a little pain or discomfort. It's a useful word to know for everyday conversations.
When you're talking about something sharp and pointy on a plant, like a rose has, you use the word espina. It's also what you'd call a fish bone that gets stuck in your throat.
Think of it as a small, hard, and often painful projection. So, if you're eating fish, watch out for the espinas! And if you're smelling a rose, be careful not to prick yourself on its espinas.
When talking about plants, espina refers to a thorn, like on a rose bush. For fish, it means a bone. You might also hear it used metaphorically for a lingering annoyance or something that "pricks" at you, similar to the English phrase "a thorn in one's side." So, it's not just a literal sharp point, but can also describe a persistent, unpleasant feeling or problem.
§ Understanding 'espina'
Alright, let's get straight to it. You've learned that espina means 'thorn' or 'spine' in English. Good. Now, where are you actually going to hear this word in real life? That's what we're covering in this section.
The word espina is pretty straightforward. It refers to a sharp, pointed part of a plant, like a rose thorn, or the bony part of a fish. It's not a super common word you'll hear every single day, but when you do, it's important to understand it. Think about situations where you might encounter something prickly or sharp.
- DEFINITION
- A sharp, pointed outgrowth on a plant or fish.
§ At Work or School
In a work or school setting, you might encounter espina if you're dealing with plants or biology. For example, if you're studying botany or working in a garden, you'll definitely hear this word. It's not usually used metaphorically in these contexts, so it's quite literal.
Las espinas de la rosa me pincharon el dedo. (The thorns of the rose pricked my finger.)
Cuidado con las espinas del cactus. (Be careful with the cactus spines.)
If you're in a science class discussing marine life, you might talk about the espinas of certain fish. It's a specific term, so it's used when accuracy is important.
El pescado tiene muchas espinas pequeñas. (The fish has many small bones/spines.)
§ In the News or General Conversation
In news reports, you might hear espina if there's a story about agriculture, gardening, or even fishing. It's not a word that will dominate headlines, but it will appear in relevant contexts. For example, a report about a new type of rose might mention its espinas.
Los agricultores deben protegerse de las espinas de las plantas. (Farmers must protect themselves from the plant thorns.)
In general conversation, someone might use espina if they've had a literal encounter with a thorn. For instance, if they just got pricked by a rose, they'd say:
Me saqué una espina del dedo. (I took a thorn out of my finger.)
There's also an idiom, though it's less common, 'tener una espina clavada' which literally means 'to have a thorn stuck' but metaphorically means to have a lingering resentment or something bothering you. However, focus on the literal meaning first.
§ Practical Application
The best way to get comfortable with espina is to look for it. When you're reading in Spanish, whether it's a gardening blog or a nature documentary transcript, pay attention to how and when espina is used. If you're eating fish, consciously think about 'las espinas'.
- When you see a rose, think: Tiene espinas. (It has thorns.)
- When you eat fish with small bones, think: ¡Cuidado con las espinas! (Watch out for the bones!)
- If you're talking about a cactus, you'll definitely use: Las espinas del cactus. (The spines of the cactus.)
Keep it simple. Associate espina with anything sharp and pointy on plants or with fish bones. That's your core understanding. The more you encounter it, the more natural it will become. Don't overthink it; just observe and repeat.
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按水平分级的例句
La rosa tenía tantas espinas que era difícil de sostener sin pincharse.
The rose had so many thorns that it was difficult to hold without pricking oneself.
Se quitó la espina del dedo con unas pinzas, con cuidado de no romperla.
He removed the splinter from his finger with tweezers, being careful not to break it.
El pescado que comimos tenía unas espinas muy finas, había que tener cuidado al masticar.
The fish we ate had very fine bones, you had to be careful when chewing.
A pesar de ser hermosa, la planta estaba llena de espinas, lo que la hacía inaccesible.
Despite being beautiful, the plant was full of thorns, which made it inaccessible.
Metafóricamente, se dice que una preocupación constante es una espina clavada en el corazón.
Metaphorically, a constant worry is said to be a thorn in one's side (lit. stuck in the heart).
Idiomatic expression
El cirujano extrajo con éxito la espina dorsal dañada en una compleja operación.
The surgeon successfully extracted the damaged spinal column in a complex operation.
Espina dorsal refers to the spine.
El erizo de mar se defiende con sus largas y afiladas espinas.
The sea urchin defends itself with its long and sharp spines.
Sentía una espina en el zapato que le molestaba a cada paso que daba.
He felt a thorn (or small sharp object) in his shoe that bothered him with every step he took.
习语与表达
"Estar en la espina"
To be on edge or in a difficult situation. (Literally: To be on the thorn)
Después de discutir, María estaba en la espina todo el día. (After arguing, Maria was on edge all day.)
informal"Sacar la espina"
To get something off one's chest, to relieve a lingering annoyance or desire. (Literally: To take out the thorn)
Por fin le pude decir lo que pensaba y sacar la espina que tenía. (Finally, I could tell him what I thought and get it off my chest.)
neutral"Tener una espina clavada"
To have a deep-seated grievance or regret. (Literally: To have a thorn stuck)
Desde que perdió el partido, Juan tiene una espina clavada. (Since he lost the game, Juan has a deep-seated regret.)
neutral"Ser la espina de algo/alguien"
To be the constant annoyance or obstacle for someone/something. (Literally: To be the thorn of something/someone)
Ese problema ha sido la espina de mi proyecto. (That problem has been the constant annoyance of my project.)
neutral"Espina dorsal"
Backbone, spine; also used metaphorically for the most important part or support of something. (Literally: Dorsal thorn)
La honestidad es la espina dorsal de una buena amistad. (Honesty is the backbone of a good friendship.)
formal"Sin espinas"
Without complications, easy. (Literally: Without thorns)
Es un trabajo sin espinas, cualquiera puede hacerlo. (It's an easy job, anyone can do it.)
neutral"Pisar una espina"
To make a mistake, to have a setback. (Literally: To step on a thorn)
El equipo pisó una espina y perdió el partido. (The team had a setback and lost the game.)
informal"Quitar espinas"
To remove difficulties or obstacles. (Literally: To remove thorns)
Su ayuda me sirvió para quitar muchas espinas del camino. (His help served to remove many obstacles from my path.)
neutral"Tener la espina del mar"
To be very skinny. (Literally: To have the thorn of the sea - referring to a fish bone)
Después de la enfermedad, mi abuela tiene la espina del mar. (After the illness, my grandmother is very skinny.)
informal"La espina del recuerdo"
A painful or persistent memory. (Literally: The thorn of memory)
La espina del recuerdo de su partida aún duele. (The painful memory of his departure still hurts.)
formal自我测试 12 个问题
Con cuidado, la rosa tiene una ___ que puede pincharte.
The context refers to something that can 'pincharte' (prick you) on a rose, which is an 'espina' (thorn).
El pescador se quejó de que el pez tenía muchas ___ pequeñas que dificultaban comerlo.
Fish have 'espinas' (bones/spines) that can make them difficult to eat.
Para evitar heridas, siempre uso guantes gruesos cuando podo el rosal por sus ___.
Gloves are used to protect against 'espinas' (thorns) when pruning a rose bush.
El cactus del desierto está cubierto de afiladas ___ para protegerse de los depredadores.
Cacti are known for their sharp 'espinas' (spines) as a defense mechanism.
Ten cuidado al manipular el pescado fresco; a veces, una ___ se puede quedar en el dedo.
When handling fresh fish, a 'espina' (bone/spine) can sometimes prick you.
Arrancó la maleza con cuidado para no clavarse ninguna ___ de las zarzas.
Brambles (zarzas) have 'espinas' (thorns) that can prick you.
This sentence uses 'espina' metaphorically to describe a lingering regret or moral burden.
This sentence highlights the protective role of physical 'espinas' on a plant, implying even small details can be significant.
Here, 'espina' is used idiomatically to denote something that caused significant pain or hurt to one's pride.
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
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