What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ça ne te regarde pas translates to 'that does not look at you.' In this context, the verb regarder (to look or watch) is used idiomatically to mean 'to concern' or 'to be one's business.'
Which one should you use?
While ça ne te regarde pas is a common way to say 'it's none of your business,' other options exist for different tones. For example, mêle-toi de tes affaires is a direct and often rude command meaning 'mind your own business.' If you want to be more aggressive and question someone's interference, you might use the colloquial expression de quoi je me mêle ?, which means 'what are you meddling in?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, such as when speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people, you should use the formal/plural form ça ne vous regarde pas or the even more formal Cela ne vous regarde pas (That's none of your concern). Additionally, Ce n'est pas de votre ressort (That is not in your jurisdiction) is a formal way to express this idea.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, you will commonly hear variations such as Ça ne te regarde pas. In Quebec, the expression Tu n'as pas à savoir is also used.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to a stranger, a superior or more than one person, use the formal/plural version ça ne vous regarde pas. You may also use Ça ne te concerne pas to mean 'It doesn't concern you.'
Did you know?
- The word pas in ça ne te regarde pas literally means 'a step'. It originally appeared in negative phrases to mean 'not a single step', but eventually became a standard part of how French speakers say 'not'.
- The aggressive expression de quoi je me mêle ? is a linguistic trick where you ask about your own meddling to actually accuse the other person of being nosy.
- The phrase mêle-toi de tes affaires is a common way to say 'mind your own business' and uses the verb mêler, which also means 'to mix' or 'to blend'.
Examples in context
- Ça ne te regarde pas du tout.It is none of your business at all.
- Écoute, ça ne te regarde pas.Listen, it's none of your business.
- Ma vie privée, ça ne te regarde pas.My private life is none of your business.
Example conversation
Hugo asks Chloé about a private secret.
- ChloéJe ne veux pas en parler.I don't want to talk about it.
- HugoMais je veux juste savoir pourquoi !But I just want to know why!
- ChloéÇa ne te regarde pas, Hugo.It's none of your business, Hugo.
- HugoD'accord, je ne demande plus.Okay, I won't ask anymore.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ne, pas, te, ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
