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es una cosa

it's one thing

→ ser
phrase Common #6,667
it's one thing Used to contrast one situation or idea with another, often in the pattern 'X es una cosa, Y es otra'.
SP: Pedir ayuda es una cosa, pero depender de ella es otra.
EN: Asking for help is one thing, but depending on it is another.

La mayoría de la gente piensa que dejar de fumar es una cosa difícil de hacer.

Most people think that quitting smoking is a difficult thing to do.

Un poema es una cosa que nunca ha sido, que nunca podrá ser.

A poem is something that has never been, that can never be.

Santa, que vengas a beber gratis es una cosa, pero con mi hija ni de broma.

Santa, you coming here to drink for free is one thing, but messing with my daughter—not a chance.

— Los lunes al sol (2002)

Es una cosa de JVC.

It's a JVC thing.

— Whiplash (2014)

Hablar es una cosa y escribir es otra.

Speaking is one thing, and writing is another.

Sé que es una cosa complicada de hacer.

I know it's a complicated thing to do.

Es una cosa llevando a otra y a otra.

It's one thing leading to another and another.

Saber es una cosa, enseñar es otra.

Knowing is one thing, teaching is another.

La vida es una cosa graciosa.

Life is a funny thing.

Es una cosa de jazz.

It's a jazz thing.

— Whiplash (2014)

La flor perfecta es una cosa rara.

The perfect flower is a rare thing.

Es una cosa que usas cuando ves películas.

It's something you use when you watch movies.

Sólo es una cosa.

It's just one thing.

— Casi famosos (2000)

Soñar es una cosa.

Dreaming is one thing.

— Song Sung Blue - Canción para dos (2025)

Aquello no es una cosa que yo normalmente haría.

That’s not something I would normally do.

John está seguro, el aire fresco es una cosa buena.

John is sure, fresh air is a good thing.

Pagar a la pasma es una cosa.

Paying the cops is one thing.

— American Gangster (2007)

Enamorarse es una cosa, casarse es otra.

Falling in love is one thing, getting married is another.

Es una cosa bastante difícil el educar a un niño.

Raising a child is quite a difficult thing.

Es una cosa grande de plástico.

It's a big plastic thing.

— Lars y una chica de verdad (2007)

Estar en el hogar es una cosa bella.

Being at home is a beautiful thing.

Saber es una cosa, enseñar es otra cosa muy diferente.

Knowing is one thing, teaching is something else entirely.

La inocencia es una cosa hermosa.

Innocence is a beautiful thing.

No es una cosa es un maldito otro.

It's not one thing, it's a damn other.

— Una batalla tras otra (2025)

Es una cosa de familia.

It's a family thing.

— Guardianes de la noche (2004)

Mire, el carbón es una cosa muy curiosa.

You see, coal is a very curious thing.

— Gangs of Wasseypur. Parte 1 (2012)

Decir es una cosa y hacer es otra bastante diferente.

Saying is one thing, and doing is quite another.

Y ahora es una cosa verde.

And now it's a green thing.

— Turno de noche (2026)

Es una cosa muy importante, debes ser muy cuidadoso.

It is a very important matter; you must be very careful.

— El imperio de las sombras (2016)

Una cosa es una cosa.

One thing is one thing.

— El paciente inglés (1996)

Un idioma no es una cosa que se aprende de un momento a otro.

A language is not something that can be learned overnight.

La experiencia es una cosa que no puedes conseguir a cambio de nada.

Experience is something you can't get for nothing.

Saber es una cosa, hacerla es algo distinto.

Knowing is one thing, doing it is something else entirely.

Que tengas que venir pronto es una cosa buena.

The fact that you have to come soon is a good thing.

El tiempo es una cosa preciosa, así que le debemos dar el mejor uso.

Time is a precious thing, so we should make the best use of it.

La muerte es una cosa fea que la naturaleza debe ocultar, y que oculta bien.

Death is an ugly thing that nature must hide, and hides well.

Leer un montón de libros es una cosa buena.

Reading a lot of books is a good thing.

Es una cosa entera.

It's a whole thing.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

El clima es una cosa misteriosa.

The weather is a mysterious thing.

— El tiempo contigo (2019)

Es una cosa seria, acá lo llamamos Platón porque vive de la Academia.

It's a serious matter; here we call him Plato because he lives off the Academy.

— El secreto de sus ojos (2009)

La inocencia es una cosa bella.

Innocence is a beautiful thing.

Pero no sé, no sé porqué viene así, no sé, es una cosa tuya.

But I don't know, I don't know why it comes like this, I don't know, it's something you do.

— El secreto de sus ojos (2009)

Digo que la fábrica del alcalde Antonio Moraes es una cosa, y su perra otra.

I say that Mayor Antonio Moraes' factory is one thing, and his dog is another.

— O Auto da Compadecida (2000)