手早い答え
電話では ligar が日常的で幅広く、telefonar は明示的でやや改まった表現です。
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
ligar
to call or switch on
Use ligar for making a phone call in everyday speech, as well as turning devices on.
telefonar
to telephone
Use telefonar for making a phone call, with no switch-on meaning.
選び方
- ligar: Choose ligar if the sentence points to making a phone call in everyday speech, as well as turning devices on.
- telefonar: Choose telefonar if the sentence points to making a phone call, with no switch-on meaning.
例文
Vou ligar para minha mãe.
I am going to call my mother.
Ela telefonou para o médico.
She phoned the doctor.
よくある落とし穴
Use ligar para alguém or telefonar para alguém in standard usage. Without context, ligar may also mean turn on.
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ligarで、もう一度はtelefonar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。