What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I am not going well" because the French verb aller (to go) is used to express a person's health and well-being.
Which one should you use?
While je ne vais pas bien is a general statement about your state, je ne me sens pas bien specifically focuses on physical or emotional sensations or feelings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Depending on the situation, you may choose different levels of formality. Je suis mal en point is a formal expression used to indicate that one is in a bad state, feeling unwell or not doing well physically. For informal situations, you can use Ça ne va pas or Je suis pas en forme to say you are not in good shape or are not feeling well. In casual conversation, speakers often shorten the sentiment to ça ne va pas or ça va pas to indicate that things are not going well generally.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can specify your level of distress by inserting the adverb très (very) between pas and bien to create je ne vais pas très bien, meaning "I am not doing very well".
Did you know?
- In older versions of French, speakers could replace pas with other nouns to emphasize their state, such as using goutte for 'a drop' or mie for 'a crumb' to say they were not doing well at all.
- In spoken French, the word ne is frequently dropped entirely, turning je ne vais pas bien into je vais pas bien. This is so common that the 'formal' version can sound overly stiff in casual conversation.
Examples in context
- Bonjour Madame, je ne vais pas bien. J'ai attrapé un rhume.Good day, Madam. I'm not doing well. I've caught a cold.
- Excusez-moi, Monsieur, je suis mal en point depuis hier soir.Excuse me, Sir. I'm not doing well since last night.
- Salut Marie, ça ne va pas aujourd'hui. J'ai des maux de tête terribles.Hey Marie, I'm not doing well today. I have terrible headaches.
- Désolé, je suis pas en forme en ce moment. J'ai besoin de me reposer.Sorry, I'm not doing well at the moment. I need to rest.
- Je ne vais pas très bien en ce moment.I am not doing very well at the moment.
- Je ne vais pas bien aujourd'hui.I am not doing well today.
- Désolé, je ne vais pas bien du tout.Sorry, I am not doing well at all.
- Je ne vais pas bien à cause de la fatigue.I am not doing well because of fatigue.
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are talking on the phone.
- ManonSalut Gabriel, comment ça va ?Hi Gabriel, how are you?
- GabrielPour être honnête, je ne vais pas bien.To be honest, I am not doing well.
- ManonOh non, qu'est-ce qui t'arrive ?Oh no, what is happening to you?
- GabrielJe suis juste très fatigué en ce moment.I am just very tired right now.
