Décision difficile
Difficult decision
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A 'décision difficile' is a high-stakes choice that requires careful thought and often involves emotional or professional weight.
- Means: A hard choice that isn't easily resolved.
- Used in: Job interviews, relationship talks, and political debates.
- Don't confuse: Never say 'faire une décision'; always use 'prendre une décision'.
Explanation at your level:
معنی
A hard choice to make.
زمینه فرهنگی
The French value 'la réflexion'. Calling a decision 'difficile' is a way to show you have been thoughtful and analytical, which is highly respected in professional circles. In Quebec, you might hear 'un choix malaisé', though 'décision difficile' remains the standard. The influence of English 'make a decision' is stronger here, so watch out for 'faire une décision'. In Francophone Africa, formal French is often used in administration. 'Décision difficile' is common in official speeches to denote the gravity of state matters. Swiss French tends to be very precise. You might hear 'décision délicate' to imply a need for diplomacy alongside the difficulty.
The 'Prendre' Rule
If you remember nothing else, remember that you 'take' decisions in French. It's the #1 marker of a fluent speaker.
Avoid Overuse
Don't use this for small things like choosing a movie, or you'll sound like a drama queen.
معنی
A hard choice to make.
The 'Prendre' Rule
If you remember nothing else, remember that you 'take' decisions in French. It's the #1 marker of a fluent speaker.
Avoid Overuse
Don't use this for small things like choosing a movie, or you'll sound like a drama queen.
The 'Cornélien' Flex
Use 'choix cornélien' in a writing exam to impress the examiner with your knowledge of French literature.
خودت رو بسنج
Complete the sentence with the correct verb in the present tense.
Je ________ une décision difficile aujourd'hui.
In French, we use 'prendre' with 'décision'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct option:
'Décision' is feminine and the adjective follows the noun.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Tu as choisi ton futur appartement ? B: Pas encore, c'est une ________ ________.
This is the standard collocation for a tough choice.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate context.
When would you say 'J'ai pris la décision difficile de démissionner'?
Quitting a job is a high-stakes choice suitable for this phrase.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
سوالات متداول
10 سوالIt's understandable but sounds a bit 'off'. 'Difficile' is the standard collocation.
It's just a linguistic convention. Think of it as 'taking a path' or 'taking a stance'.
Yes, all nouns ending in '-sion' or '-tion' in French are feminine.
Yes, it's perfectly fine for texting friends about serious stuff.
Une décision facile or une évidence.
It depends. 'C'est difficile de prendre une décision' (general) vs 'Cette décision est difficile à prendre' (specific).
You can say 'J'ai du mal à prendre une décision'.
It's neutral. It works in both formal and informal settings.
Yes, it's a very common synonym.
It means to make a final, often difficult, decision quickly.
عبارات مرتبط
un choix cornélien
specialized formA choice between two equally important values.
un dilemme
synonymA situation with two difficult choices.
trancher
builds onTo decide once and for all (literally: to slice).
peser le pour et le contre
builds onTo weigh the pros and cons.
کجا استفاده کنیم
Job Offer
A: Alors, tu acceptes le poste à Lyon ?
B: Je ne sais pas encore, c'est une décision difficile.
Breakup
A: Tu as l'air triste.
B: Oui, j'ai pris une décision difficile hier... j'ai quitté Julie.
Business Meeting
Boss: Nous devons réduire les coûts. C'est une décision difficile.
Employee: Nous comprenons la situation, Monsieur.
Ordering Food (Sarcastic)
A: Pizza ou Sushi ?
B: Ah, quelle décision difficile !
Political Speech
Ministre: Mes chers concitoyens, j'ai pris une décision difficile pour l'avenir du pays.
Buying a House
Agent: Cette maison est parfaite pour vous.
Client: C'est une décision difficile, le prix est très élevé.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'D' for Decision and 'D' for Difficult. In French, they both start with 'D', just like in English, but you 'Take' (Prendre) it like a pill.
Visual Association
Imagine a person standing at a fork in the road. One path is covered in thorns (difficile), and they are holding a heavy stone labeled 'Décision'.
Rhyme
Pour une décision difficile, garde ton sang-froid et reste agile.
Story
Marc had to choose between his cat and his new job in Tokyo. It was a 'décision difficile'. He sat by the Seine, 'took' (pris) the decision, and decided to buy a cat-sized suitcase.
Word Web
چالش
Write down one 'décision difficile' you made this year using the verb 'prendre' in the passé composé.
In Other Languages
Decisión difícil
Almost no difference in usage or structure.
Schwere Entscheidung
The metaphor shifts from 'difficulty' to 'weight'.
苦渋の決断 (Kujū no ketsudan)
Much more emotional and formal than the French version.
قرار صعب (Qarar sa'b)
The verb used is often 'ittakhadha' (to take/adopt).
艰难的决定 (Jiānnán de juédìng)
Word order (Adjective + Noun).
어려운 결정 (Eoryeoun gyeoljeong)
Korean uses 'make' (hada) or 'down' (naerida) for decisions.
Decisão difícil
None.
Difficult decision
Verb choice (Make vs Take) and word order.
Easily Confused
Learners often use 'dur' instead of 'difficile'.
'Dur' is more physical or harsh; 'difficile' is the standard for mental effort.
Direct translation from English 'make a decision'.
Always pair 'décision' with 'prendre'.
سوالات متداول (10)
It's understandable but sounds a bit 'off'. 'Difficile' is the standard collocation.
It's just a linguistic convention. Think of it as 'taking a path' or 'taking a stance'.
Yes, all nouns ending in '-sion' or '-tion' in French are feminine.
Yes, it's perfectly fine for texting friends about serious stuff.
Une décision facile or une évidence.
It depends. 'C'est difficile de prendre une décision' (general) vs 'Cette décision est difficile à prendre' (specific).
You can say 'J'ai du mal à prendre une décision'.
It's neutral. It works in both formal and informal settings.
Yes, it's a very common synonym.
It means to make a final, often difficult, decision quickly.
