Caer Bien, Caer Mal
When you want to say you like someone in the sense that you get along well, use the expression Caer bien:| Me cae bien Alejandra. | I like Alejandra (we get along well) |
If you dislike someone, use the expression Caer mal:
Me cae mal el profesor nuevo. |
I dislike the new professor. (He rubs me the wrong way personally.) |
You also can say:
| No me cae bien Fernando. | I do not like Fernando. (less harsh than Me cae mal. |
| No me cae mal Fernando. | I do not dislike Fernando. |
What is the difference between these
statements? It is a subtle difference. Think about the statements
in English and what they imply to you. One is more ACTIVE than the
other: To say you do not like a person is not to say that you DISLIKE
them - you may simply feel neutral or have no real opinion. You don't
put that person into a category with people you LIKE or want to be with.
To say you DISLIKE a person is stronger - it means you have an active negative
feeling.
Use Caer bien (or mal) when discussing friends or acquaintances, because when you use Gustar in reference to human beings, it connotes a physical attraction:
| Me gustan los morenos. | I am attracted to dark-haired men. |
| Me gusta Keanu Reeves | I L-i-i-i-i-i-ike Keanu Reeves (I think he is guapísimo!) |
To ask about someone's romantic interest in you, try ¿Me quieres? or ¿Me amas?
Avoid the error of *Me gusto - At best this implies you are physically appealing to yourself which is probably not what you mean to say (at worst it is TMI.) It is safe to use Gustar when referring to professionals and people when you are using their professional titles. |
|
| Me gustan los profesores de mi universidad | I like the professors at my university. |