Word
Non applicare un prodotto qualsiasi sul viso.
Meaning
Do not apply just any product on the face.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Non applicare un prodotto qualsiasi sul viso.
un
a / an (masculine)
non
not
il viso
the face
sul
on the; about the (su + il)
Questions & Answers about Non applicare un prodotto qualsiasi sul viso.
Since non applicare is the negative imperative for tu (you), is this instruction talking directly to me?
Not necessarily. While non applicare is the standard negative command for tu, here it is acting as the jussive infinitive (infinito iussivo). This form is used on labels, recipes, and manuals to give an impersonal instruction to anyone reading it. It isn't speaking to you personally, but rather stating a general rule.
Why is qualsiasi placed after un prodotto instead of before it?
The placement changes the nuance! When qualsiasi comes before a noun without an article (e.g., qualsiasi prodotto), it simply means 'any product' or 'whichever product.' But when placed after a noun with an indefinite article (un prodotto qualsiasi), it means 'just any random product' or 'an ordinary product.' Here, it warns against using a low-quality or inappropriate product.
Why does the sentence use sul viso (on the face) instead of translating 'on your face'?
Italian generally drops possessive adjectives (like tuo) when talking about body parts, using just the definite article instead (il viso). Combined with the preposition su (on), it becomes sul. Since this is a general instruction, the possessive is completely unnecessary; it is universally understood that it means the user's face.
Could the label have used faccia instead of for 'face'?