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chato

English translation: bad/ lame/poor (in the sense of not effective enough)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:chato
English translation:bad/ lame/poor (in the sense of not effective enough)
Entered by: Carmen Schultz

10:12 Jun 29, 2006
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History / quotation
Spanish term or phrase: chato
I am translating a historical academic document which quotes from a Spanish book. The quotation is an extract from a letter from Marie Antoinette to her mother which has been translated into Spanish. I have tried to find on original French version in order to translate this word, without success. The translations I have found of 'chato' (snub, flat) don't fit here. Can anyone help? I have tried everything! Thanks. 'chatas' at the end of the quote is the word I am struggling with but I have put the whole thing in for context.
"Padecemos una epidemia de canciones satíricas. Las hay sobre todas las personas de la Corte, hombres y mujeres, y la ligereza francesa se explaya incluso sobre el rey. En cuanto a mí, no he quedado exenta. Si bien las maledicencias agradan bastante en este país, éstas de ahora son tan chatas que no tienen éxito ninguno ni entre el público ni entre la gente de provecho"
Karen Marston
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:32
bad/ lame/poor (in the sense of not effective enough)
Explanation:
bad/ lame/poor (in the sense of not effective enough)

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Note added at 7 mins (2006-06-29 10:20:36 GMT)
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Creo que encaja bien con los sentidos 4 y 6 del DRAE:


chato, ta.
(Del b. lat. plattus, aplanado, y este del gr. πλατύς, con infl. gall. port.).
1. adj. Que tiene la nariz poco prominente y como aplastada. U. t. c. s.
2. adj. Dicho de una nariz: Que tiene esta forma.
3. adj. Dicho de una cosa: Que tiene menos relieve, longitud o elevación de lo normal. Una vasija, una silueta chata
4. adj. Intelectualmente pobre, o corto de miras. Una realidad chata Un discurso chato
5. adj. coloq. Perú. Dicho de una persona: De baja estatura. U. t. c. s.
6. adj. coloq. Ven. Dicho de un asunto o de un negocio: Poco rentable.
Selected response from:

Carmen Schultz
Local time: 19:32
Grading comment
Thanks, I agree that this fits perfectly. I liked lame too but was unsure if it was appropriate for the period so went with poor. Thank you to Chanda, Cindy and Alfredo for the RAE link, I have one but it is not as comprehensive as the web version!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4banal, trivial, insignificant
celiacp
5 +1see explanation
Y. Peraza
4 +2bad/ lame/poor (in the sense of not effective enough)
Carmen Schultz
4 +1shallow
tazdog (X)
4poor taste, low-key
Alfredo Fernández Martínez
2crude / vulgar / unrefined
Simon Bruni


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
banal, trivial, insignificant


Explanation:
tres opciones. Van en ese sentido.

celiacp
Spain
Local time: 02:32
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alfredo Fernández Martínez: good ones too...
42 mins
  -> gracias, Alfredo!
agree  Pilar Díez: I like trivial myself
1 hr
  -> gracias!
agree  reubenius
1 hr
  -> gracias :P!!
agree  Egmont
2 hrs
  -> gracias !!!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
see explanation


Explanation:
Chato means flat. Those songs are flat in an intellectual way: they are boring or without interest. See this definition from the RAE dictionary:
4. adj. Intelectualmente pobre, o corto de miras. Una realidad chata Un discurso chato


    Reference: http://www.rae.es/
Y. Peraza
Local time: 02:32
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chanda Danley
2 mins
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
bad/ lame/poor (in the sense of not effective enough)


Explanation:
bad/ lame/poor (in the sense of not effective enough)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2006-06-29 10:20:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Creo que encaja bien con los sentidos 4 y 6 del DRAE:


chato, ta.
(Del b. lat. plattus, aplanado, y este del gr. πλατύς, con infl. gall. port.).
1. adj. Que tiene la nariz poco prominente y como aplastada. U. t. c. s.
2. adj. Dicho de una nariz: Que tiene esta forma.
3. adj. Dicho de una cosa: Que tiene menos relieve, longitud o elevación de lo normal. Una vasija, una silueta chata
4. adj. Intelectualmente pobre, o corto de miras. Una realidad chata Un discurso chato
5. adj. coloq. Perú. Dicho de una persona: De baja estatura. U. t. c. s.
6. adj. coloq. Ven. Dicho de un asunto o de un negocio: Poco rentable.


Carmen Schultz
Local time: 19:32
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks, I agree that this fits perfectly. I liked lame too but was unsure if it was appropriate for the period so went with poor. Thank you to Chanda, Cindy and Alfredo for the RAE link, I have one but it is not as comprehensive as the web version!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Stuart Allsop: Yes! I think you have captured the intended sense perfectly. I think I'd go with "lame".
4 hrs
  -> thanks! : )
agree  Susana Mate: I completely agree.
4 hrs
  -> thanks ! : )
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
shallow


Explanation:
See this meaning of chato from D.R.A.E.

4. adj. Intelectualmente pobre, o corto de miras. Una realidad chata Un discurso chato
http://www.rae.es/

Shallow:
Measuring little from bottom to top or surface; lacking physical depth.
***Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge: “This is a shallow parody of America” (Lloyd Rose). ***

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shallow


tazdog (X)
Spain
Local time: 02:32
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 56

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alfredo Fernández Martínez: A GOOD ONE TOO...
29 mins
  -> thanks!
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
crude / vulgar / unrefined


Explanation:
this is my interpretation

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Note added at 12 mins (2006-06-29 10:25:14 GMT)
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or how about "rudimentary"?

Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 146
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
poor taste, low-key


Explanation:


alguien chato es alguien bajito, 'short'

un chato de vito = un vaso pequeño de vino

aquí chato, sería chato = algo bajo, bajeza

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Note added at 8 Min. (2006-06-29 10:20:44 GMT)
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de la Academia Real Lengua, www.rae.es


chato, ta.
(Del b. lat. plattus, aplanado, y este del gr. πλατύς, con infl. gall. port.).
1. adj. Que tiene la nariz poco prominente y como aplastada. U. t. c. s.
2. adj. Dicho de una nariz: Que tiene esta forma.
3. adj. Dicho de una cosa: Que tiene menos relieve, longitud o elevación de lo normal. Una vasija, una silueta chata
*****4. adj. Intelectualmente pobre, o corto de miras. Una realidad chata Un discurso chato *****
5. adj. coloq. Perú. Dicho de una persona: De baja estatura. U. t. c. s.
6. adj. coloq. Ven. Dicho de un asunto o de un negocio: Poco rentable.
7. m. coloq. En las tabernas, vaso bajo y ancho de vino o de otra bebida.
8. f. Bacín plano, con borde entrante y mango hueco, por donde se vacía. Se usa como orinal de cama para los enfermos que no pueden incorporarse.
9. f. chalana (ǁ embarcación).
10. f. And. muerte (ǁ cesación de la vida). LA chata

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Note added at 45 Min. (2006-06-29 10:58:08 GMT)
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'flat', 'plain', are indeed other alternatives... :-)

Alfredo Fernández Martínez
Spain
Local time: 02:32
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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