dar trabalho
to be troublesome
字面意思: to give work
Use it to describe anything—from a broken sink to a toddler—that requires extra effort or causes stress.
15秒了解
- Used for people or things that cause trouble or require effort.
- Translates literally to 'to give work' but means 'to be troublesome.'
- Works in both casual conversations and professional venting sessions.
意思
This phrase describes anything that requires a lot of effort, causes trouble, or is generally difficult to handle. You use it for people, objects, or situations that make your life a bit harder than it should be.
关键例句
3 / 6Talking about a new pet
O meu cachorro novo dá muito trabalho, mas eu amo ele.
My new dog is a lot of work, but I love him.
Discussing a difficult task at work
Este relatório vai dar trabalho para terminar.
This report is going to be a hassle to finish.
Texting a friend about a car breakdown
Meu carro quebrou de novo. Só me dá trabalho!
My car broke down again. It only gives me trouble!
文化背景
The phrase reflects a cultural emphasis on 'fluidez' (fluidity) in daily life. In Brazil, calling someone 'trabalhoso' or saying they 'dar trabalho' is a common way to describe rebellious children or high-maintenance friends, often used with a mix of frustration and affection.
The 'Trabalhão' Hack
If something was a nightmare to deal with, use 'trabalhão' instead of 'trabalho'. It adds instant drama and emphasis.
Careful with People
Saying a person 'dá trabalho' can be seen as calling them high-maintenance or annoying. Use it carefully around the person in question!
15秒了解
- Used for people or things that cause trouble or require effort.
- Translates literally to 'to give work' but means 'to be troublesome.'
- Works in both casual conversations and professional venting sessions.
What It Means
Think of dar trabalho as the ultimate way to describe a hassle. In English, you might say something is 'a handful' or 'a pain.' In Portuguese, we say it 'gives work.' It means the subject is demanding your energy, time, or patience. It can be a naughty puppy or a broken computer. It is all about the effort you have to expend.
How To Use It
You use it just like a regular verb. The subject is the thing causing the trouble. For example, Meu carro deu trabalho means my car was problematic. You can also add muito to say it gave 'a lot' of work. It is very flexible with tenses. You will hear it in the past, present, and future often.
When To Use It
Use it when you are venting to a friend about a project. Use it when describing a difficult child at a family dinner. It works perfectly at a restaurant if a dish is hard to eat. It is great for tech support calls too. If your phone keeps freezing, it is definitely dando trabalho. It is a very common, everyday expression.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for things that are just physically heavy. Use pesado for that. Avoid using it to describe a person you deeply respect in a formal setting. Calling your boss someone who dá trabalho might sound a bit rude. It implies they are annoying or incompetent. Keep it for peers, kids, or objects.
Cultural Background
Brazilians and Portuguese people value social harmony and ease. When something dá trabalho, it disrupts the flow of life. There is a certain pride in things being 'tranquilo' (calm). This phrase highlights the friction against that ideal. It is often said with a sigh and a slight roll of the eyes. It is the universal language of being slightly overwhelmed.
Common Variations
You might hear dar um trabalhão. This is the augmented version for when things are really bad. Trabalhão means 'big work.' Another one is dar o que falar, which is more about gossip. But for pure effort and hassle, dar trabalho is your go-to. It is simple, effective, and very common.
使用说明
The phrase is neutral and safe for most contexts. In very formal writing, you might prefer 'exigir esforço' (to require effort), but in 95% of spoken situations, 'dar trabalho' is the natural choice.
The 'Trabalhão' Hack
If something was a nightmare to deal with, use 'trabalhão' instead of 'trabalho'. It adds instant drama and emphasis.
Careful with People
Saying a person 'dá trabalho' can be seen as calling them high-maintenance or annoying. Use it carefully around the person in question!
The Polite Refusal
If someone offers help and you say 'Não quero dar trabalho', it's a very polite way to say 'I don't want to be a burden.'
例句
6O meu cachorro novo dá muito trabalho, mas eu amo ele.
My new dog is a lot of work, but I love him.
Commonly used for pets that are energetic or messy.
Este relatório vai dar trabalho para terminar.
This report is going to be a hassle to finish.
Predicting that a task will require significant effort.
Meu carro quebrou de novo. Só me dá trabalho!
My car broke down again. It only gives me trouble!
Expressing frustration with a recurring problem.
Ele era calmo, mas agora está dando trabalho na escola.
He was calm, but now he's being troublesome at school.
Describes behavioral issues or academic struggles.
Fazer essa lasanha dá trabalho, mas comer é fácil!
Making this lasagna is a lot of work, but eating it is easy!
Lighthearted use regarding the effort behind a meal.
Peço desculpas por ter dado trabalho à equipe.
I apologize for causing trouble for the team.
A polite way to acknowledge that your actions caused extra work.
自我测试
Choose the correct form of the phrase to complete the sentence.
Cuidar de três crianças pequenas ___ muito ___.
The standard expression is 'dar trabalho' to indicate that something is demanding or troublesome.
Select the best word to intensify the trouble caused.
Nossa, esse projeto deu um ___!
'Trabalhão' is the augmented form of 'trabalho', used to emphasize that something was extremely difficult.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'dar trabalho'
Talking to friends about a broken phone.
Esse celular só me dá trabalho!
Discussing a project with a colleague.
A organização do evento deu trabalho.
Apologizing in a professional email.
Lamento pelo trabalho que isso possa ter dado.
Where to use 'dar trabalho'
Technology
A impressora está dando trabalho.
Parenting
Crianças dão trabalho.
Cooking
Limpar o peixe dá trabalho.
Relationships
Namoro à distância dá trabalho.
常见问题
10 个问题It means something is being troublesome or requires a lot of effort. You use it when a situation or person is making things difficult, like Esse computador dá trabalho.
Yes, but it implies they are difficult to manage. For example, Meu filho dá trabalho para comer means your son is a picky or difficult eater.
No, trabalhar is the verb 'to work' (a job). Dar trabalho is an expression about the effort or hassle something causes.
You can say deu um trabalhão. Adding the suffix -ão makes it 'big work,' indicating a major headache or huge effort.
Not inherently, but it can be. Calling your host's dinner trabalhoso might sound ungrateful, but saying Não quero dar trabalho is very polite.
Yes, it is neutral. You can say Este projeto está dando trabalho to inform your boss that a task is more complex than expected.
You could say something is fácil (easy) or tranquilo (calm/smooth). There isn't a direct opposite phrase like 'dar facilidade'.
Mostly, but it can be used for things that are worth the effort. Ter um jardim dá trabalho, mas é lindo means having a garden is hard work but worth it.
Not usually. For a hard workout, you'd say it was puxado or pesado. Dar trabalho implies more of a logistical or behavioral hassle.
Learners sometimes say fazer trabalho. Remember, the trouble 'gives' you work, it doesn't 'make' it in this specific idiom.
相关表达
dar um trabalhão
to be a huge hassle
não querer dar trabalho
to not want to be a burden
ser trabalhoso
to be laborious/time-consuming
dar o que falar
to cause a stir/gossip
评论 (0)
登录后评论免费开始学习语言
免费开始学习