手早い答え
cobrar は請求・回収する側、pagar は支払う側です。
確実な見分け方は、英語から訳す前に、その単語の働きを見きわめることです。
それぞれの単語の働き
cobrar
to charge or collect
Use cobrar for requesting payment, collecting a debt, or demanding an expected action.
pagar
to pay
Use pagar for giving money to settle a price, bill, or debt.
選び方
- cobrar: Choose cobrar if the sentence points to requesting payment, collecting a debt, or demanding an expected action.
- pagar: Choose pagar if the sentence points to giving money to settle a price, bill, or debt.
例文
O hotel cobrou uma taxa extra.
The hotel charged an extra fee.
Paguei a conta com cartão.
I paid the bill by card.
よくある落とし穴
Cobrar can also mean press someone for an answer or result, so it does not always involve money.
文脈の中で練習する
自分の実生活から文を一つ選び、二回書いてみましょう。一度はcobrarで、もう一度はpagarで。どちらも成り立ちそうなら、意味の違いを言葉にしてみましょう。