I think that’s more that tener (to have) doesn’t always mean a physical thing.
As an example in spanish they use tener for age. As in tengo 20 años literally is “I have 20 years” but it means “I am 20”
Or ten cuidado means “take care” or “be careful” but literally is more like “have care”. Both phrases use tener in a nonphysical sense in the same way as in english we use “to have”. Like to have compassion or to have doubts.
In Spanish, they talk about hunger and thirst as if they are physical objects.
I think that’s more that tener (to have) doesn’t always mean a physical thing.
As an example in spanish they use tener for age. As in tengo 20 años literally is “I have 20 years” but it means “I am 20”
Or ten cuidado means “take care” or “be careful” but literally is more like “have care”. Both phrases use tener in a nonphysical sense in the same way as in english we use “to have”. Like to have compassion or to have doubts.
but it works because abstract concepts are things an individual can own.
Like “Tengo quidado” is “i own the the abstract concept of care”.
it could work in English, but it just sounds strange or poetic, like “i have hunger”
I don’t think so, it’s not like you can have a monopoly on hunger or sleepiness. “Tener/to have” doesn’t mean to own.
In English you can say “I have feelings” but not “I have sadness”, because they don’t consider emotions to be “things”.
yet you can have depression?
English being inconsistent, who would’ve thought.
sucks that English became the international language, that language is painfully inconsistent.
although preferable to french
Quidar isn’t a Spanish verb I’m familiar with. I assume you meant cuidar.
Tengo cuidado would translate to “I am careful” literally it’d be like “I have care”.
“I am careful” would be translated as “Soy cuidadoso”
Si no tengo cuidado, un antojo repentino puede arruinar fácilmente mi dieta.
If I’m not careful, a snack attack can easily ruin my diet.
There are many translations for different phrases.
honestly, I don’t think this convo is going anywhere, I just miss speaking Spanish.
German too. Ich habe Hunger. Sie haben Durst.
You can have feelings too.
Aw, thanks! I feel like you’re a lovely person.
Heh, Fred Thirst
Feelings are things we have.
Je suis Francais. J’ai froid. Je plaisante, j’ai je suis chaud.