je l'aime bien
The English phrase "I like him" is expressed in French as je l'aime bien.
This phrase is used to express that you have a positive opinion of someone or find them pleasant. While usually applied to people, if you use je l'aime bien for an object or a thing, it means you find it pleasant or useful rather than expressing affection.
Which one should you use?
There is an important distinction between je l'aime bien and je l'aime. Adding bien actually weakens the meaning from "I love him" to "I like him", whereas je l'aime alone usually implies romantic love or deep affection.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the informal expression J'aime ça ce gars-là is used to mean "I like this guy". In France, the informal expression Je kiffe ce mec is used to mean "I'm into this guy".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase je l'aime bien, the l' is a contraction of the direct object pronoun le (him), which elides before a vowel.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use je l'aime to mean "I like him", but in French, this frequently carries a romantic connotation that je l'aime bien avoids.
Did you know?
- The informal phrase Je kiffe ce mec uses the word kiffe, which is derived from the Arabic word kif meaning 'pleasure' or 'mood'.
- The word bien is a direct descendant of the Latin bene, which is also the root of English words like 'benefit' and 'benevolent'.
- While je l'aime bien avoids romantic tension, saying it with a specific rising intonation can turn the phrase into a question of doubt or irony.
Examples in context
- Je l'aime bien. C'est un chic type.I like him. He's a nice guy.Tatoeba #5537297 by sacredceltic, translation #2745299 by Hybrid
- Il sait probablement que je l'aime bien.He probably knows I like him.Tatoeba #6703310 by Micsmithel, translation #2871399 by Hybrid
- C'est un jeune homme avenant. Je l'aime bien.He is a personable young man. I like him.Tatoeba #10183733 by lbdx, translation #10183732 by shekitten
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new colleague.
- NathanTu penses quoi de ton nouveau collègue ?What do you think of your new colleague?
- ChloéJe l'aime bien, il est très sympathique.I like him, he is very friendly.
- NathanC'est vrai, il a l'air gentil.It's true, he seems nice.
- ChloéOui, il s'intègre très bien à l'équipe.Yes, he is fitting in very well with the team.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, je, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
