Verb parecer and pensar in Spanish
The verb parecer and pensar has a subtle difference when you say me parece and yo pienso. For example: Me parece que la pelicula fue buena, or yo pienso que la pelicula fue buena. Let’s see 3 different contexts where the difference is less and more obvious. Click here to get the notes of the class
When you are watching a movie with a friend
If you are watching a movie with a friend either at the theater or at home, and once it finishes you ask your friend:
¿Qué te parceció la película? (What was your impression or general idea of the movie)
Me pareció que la película fue buena.
In this case you are asking for a shorter explanation, or basically what was the impression of the movie.
¿Que piensas de esta película? (What do you think about the movie?) Yo pienso que tuvo un final malo, pero los actores son buenos.
You can technically say: Me parece que la pelicula tuvo un final malo, pero los actores son buenos, but it is more used with pensar.
On the following cases is more obvious the difference
Situation in a store buying clothes
You are at a store buying pants with a friend and you ask
¿Qué te parecen estos pantalones? Me parecen lindos
In this case you wont use ¿Qué piensas de estos pantalones? because you just want the first impression
¿Qué piensas de estos pantalones? Tecnically correct but is too serius and we need your first impression
When you meet a person
You are walking in the street with a friend and you bumped to a friend called Juan, that you know. You introduce Juan to your friend. After Juan leaves.
¿Qué te pareció Juan? Me pareció lindo (I thought he was cute) or Me parecio buena onda (I thought he was cool)
If Juan is your coworker and you have been working for years with him. Then you need the same question with Pensar
¿Que piensas de Juan? (What do you think of Juan?)
Juan es un buen empleado, pero a veces llega tarde
