j'aime bien
The English phrase "I like it" can be translated into French as j'aime bien.
j'aime bien is a phrase used to express that you find something pleasant or agreeable.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, j'aime bien translates to "I like well", where bien acts as an adverb to qualify the degree of liking.
Which one should you use?
While j'aime expresses a much stronger feeling of love or deep passion, the addition of bien softens the verb, meaning "I like" or "I quite like" rather than "I love".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, you might hear C'est super chouette to express liking.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a specific object or person, the direct object pronoun le or la (contracted to l') is placed before the verb, as seen in je l'aime bien.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to translate "I like it" as "J'aime ça", but adding bien makes the phrase sound much more natural in conversational French.
Did you know?
- While j'aime bien means 'I like it', saying je t'aime to a romantic partner is a declaration of love, but adding bien to make it je t'aime bien actually downgrades the sentiment to a platonic 'I like you'.
- The word bien in j'aime bien traces its ancestry back to the Latin word bene, which is the same root found in the English word 'benefit'.
- If you want to express that you like something very much without using the word 'love', you might use J'aime beaucoup instead of J'aime bien.
Examples in context
- J'aime bien ça comme ça.I like it like that.This example shows how to express liking something in a specific way using j'aime bien.Tatoeba #10531306 by lbdx, translation #10530216 by CK
- J'aime bien.I like it.This example shows the short version of the phrase using j'aime bien.Tatoeba #6774243 by Micsmithel, translation #1520245 by ABChessel
- Le manteau n'est pas mal, j'aime bien.The coat is not bad, I like it.This example uses j'aime bien to express an opinion about an object.Tatoeba #10746417 by carlosalberto, translation #10746259 by carlosalberto
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are looking at a new painting in a shop.
- ChloéRegarde ce tableau, Nathan.Look at this painting, Nathan.
- NathanOui, j'aime bien les couleurs.Yes, I like the colors.
- ChloéMoi aussi, j'aime bien son style.Me too, I like its style.
- NathanC'est une belle œuvre.It is a beautiful work.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
