Phrase · 🎩 Elevated register
Se trata de un asunto harto delicado.
It is an exceedingly delicate matter.
C2formal understatementformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Se2pronoun(it)3rdtrata2verbis (lit. treats)tratar · present · 3rd sing.de2prepositionofundeterminerauno · masc. · sing. · indefiniteasuntonounmattermasc. · sing.harto1adverbexceedinglydelicadoadjectivedelicatemasc. · sing..
- Se → de: se trata de: it is (about)
- harto → delicado: harto + adjective: very
- delicado → asunto: delicado agrees with asunto
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1harto + adjective = exceedingly (cultured). In Chile and Colombia, colloquial harto = a lot; estar harto = to be fed up. Literary and archaic style →
- 2se trata de = it is, it is about: impersonal, never with a subject (el asunto se trata de is wrong). Impersonal and passive se; reciprocal se →
Variations
- Se trata de un asunto muy delicado.
- Es este un asunto sumamente delicado.
- Se trata de una cuestión harto compleja.