j'aimerais bien
The English phrase "I would like that" can be translated into French as j'aimerais bien.
j'aimerais bien is a way to say "I would like that" or "I'd love to". This phrase is commonly used as a standalone response to a suggestion or an offer to express enthusiasm or agreement.
Which one should you use?
Other forms change the nuance or tone. Use J'aimerais bien ça. to mean "I would really like that." or Ça me ferait plaisir. for a casual way to say "I would like that." Je souhaiterais cela. means I would like that in a formal way, and J'aimerais cela, s'il vous plaît. means I would like that, please.
Did you know?
- Using the verb aimer to say 'I would like' can feel unexpectedly heavy to a native speaker because aimer is also the primary verb for 'to love' a person.
- Depending on the tone, j'aimerais bien can be used to signal a dream that the speaker believes is impossible to achieve.
- Using cela in J'aimerais cela instead of ça is so formal that the speaker may sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
Examples in context
- On va au cinéma ? J'aimerais bien !Shall we go to the cinema? I'd love to!
- J'aimerais bien partir en vacances.I would really like to go on vacation.
- J'aimerais bien apprendre le piano.I would really like to learn the piano.
- J'aimerais bien voir ce film.I would really like to see this movie.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are discussing plans for the weekend.
- NathanOn pourrait aller au restaurant ce soir.We could go to a restaurant tonight.
- ChloéOh oui, j'aimerais bien !Oh yes, I would really like that!
- NathanTu as une idée de cuisine ?Do you have a type of cuisine in mind?
- ChloéUn restaurant italien serait parfait.An Italian restaurant would be perfect.
